The Thunder are NBA champions, and they might be just getting started

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The promise came three years ago from Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti. It might have been overlooked for a couple of reasons. One, the Thunder were awful at the time. Two, he was speaking Latin. “Labor omnia vincit,” Presti said after the 2021-22 season, quoting a motto of Oklahoma. Depending on how Presti was translating it, it could have been “hard work conquers all” or “slow work conquers all.” Either way, it applies to the Thunder. They did hard work. They did slow work. They conquered all.

No 'Cers: Indiana fans left gasping as Haliburton's injury dooms title hopes in Game 7 loss

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Pacers fans arrived at Gainbridge Fieldhouse ready to celebrate their first NBA title. Seven minutes into the game came the hush. As star point guard Tyrese Haliburton fell to the floor in Oklahoma City on Sunday night with what his father, John, later called an Achilles tendon injury, fans gasped as the replay was shown and they saw the anguished look on John Haliburton’s face. The moment may go down as another cruel chapter in the franchise’s long, painful history. Pacers play-by-play announcer Chris Denari told the crowd that Haliburton would want the team to continue to fight.

Golden State Warriors help transform lives of incarcerated men through coaching program

VACAVILLE, Calif. (AP) — The Golden State Warriors are partnering with the UK-based Twinning Project to teach incarcerated men at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, California, how to coach. The program includes a focus on mental health and anger management, too. Coaching has provided a purpose and much-needed self-confidence for these men, many of whom are serving sentences of life without the possibility of parole.

‘How to Train Your Dragon’ tops the US box office as ‘Elio’ marks a new low for Pixar

NEW YORK (AP) — “How to Train Your Dragon" is maintaining its top ranking in movie theaters. The Universal Pictures live-action remake maintained its No. 1 spot at the North American box office despite two sizeable new releases this weekend. Studio estimates show neither Pixar's “Elio” nor the zombies of “28 Years Later” could topple “How to Train Your Dragon's" $37 million in ticket sales in its second weekend. The film has rapidly amassed $358.2 million worldwide. “Elio” took in just $21 million, the lowest opening ever for Pixar. The zombie sequel “28 Years Later” debuted with $30 million.

Cubs legend Sammy Sosa returns to Wrigley Field after 20-plus-year hiatus

CHICAGO (AP) — Legendary Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa returned to Wrigley Field for the first time in more than 20 years before Chicago’s game with the Seattle Mariners. Sosa is set to be inducted into the Cubs' team Hall of Fame this year. He arrived Friday at the iconic North Side ballpark in a black SUV. He was greeted with a hug from owner Tom Ricketts as he exited the vehicle. Sosa was a headliner in a generation of baseball’s biggest names linked to performance-enhancing drugs. He appeared to acknowledge using PEDs in December when he released a statement saying he was sorry for mistakes, without specifying them.

Ducks return to a Long Island farm that lost its entire flock to the bird flu

AQUEBOGUE, N.Y. (AP) — Long Island’s last commercial duck farm is rebuilding after a bird flu outbreak forced the destruction of its entire 100,000-bird flock in January. The first wave of more than 900 young ducks arrived at Crescent Duck Farm in Aquebogue at the end of May. More arrived this month and others will arrive later. They were raised at a nearby farm while the original site was thoroughly sanitized. Crescent Duck Farm owner Doug Corwin said the ducklings hatched from eggs that health officials allowed it to preserve from the outbreak. Long Island was once a center of U.S. duck production with more than 100 farms.

Anne Burrell, TV chef who coached the 'Worst Cooks in America,' dies at 55

NEW YORK (AP) — TV chef Anne Burrell, who coached culinary fumblers through hundreds of episodes of “Worst Cooks in America,” has died. The Food Network confirms that the 55-year-old Burrell died Tuesday at her New York home. Medical examiners are set to determine what caused her death. Burrell worked in upscale New York City restaurants before beginning her two-decade television career on “Iron Chef America.” She started hosting “Secrets of a Restaurant Chef" in 2008. She was known for bold and flavorful but not overly fancy dishes and for her 27 seasons on “Worst Cooks in America.”

Tyler Perry sued by actor on 'The Oval' for sexual assault and harassment

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An actor who worked on the Tyler Perry-created TV drama “The Oval” has filed a lawsuit alleging Perry leveraged his power in the entertainment industry to sexually assault and harass him. The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by actor Derek Dixon seeks at least $260 million in damages. The lawsuit says Perry used the fear of Dixon's character getting killed off to keep him quiet amid constant sexual harassment and several sexual assaults. Perry's lawyer said Dixon's claims are fabricated and are an attempt to shake down Perry.

Tom Cruise is finally getting an Oscar — as will Dolly Parton, Debbie Allen and Wynn Thomas

Tom Cruise is finally getting an Oscar. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Tuesday that Cruise, choreographer Debbie Allen and “Do The Right Thing” production designer Wynn Thomas have all been selected to receive honorary Oscar statuettes at the annual Governors Awards in November. Dolly Parton will also be recognized with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her decades-long charitable work in literacy and education. The awards will be handed out during an untelevised ceremony on Nov. 16 at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles.

Trump will sign an order extending deadline for TikTok's Chinese owner to sell app

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will sign an executive order this week to extend a deadline for TikTok’s Chinese owner to divest the popular video sharing app. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Trump's intention after Trump indicated earlier Tuesday he would “probably” make the move. Leavitt said in a statement Tuesday evening that “Trump does not want TikTok to go dark.” The extension will last for 90 days. Trump had signed an order in early April to keep TikTok running for an additional 75 days after a potential deal to sell the app to American owners was put on ice.