LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic is racing the clock to return from a Grade 2 left hamstring strain sustained April 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, with the Slovenian guard seeking every available edge to shorten a typical four-to-six-week recovery and potentially rejoin his team during the 2026 NBA playoffs against the Houston Rockets.
Luka Doncic
Doncic, who leads the league in scoring at more than 33 points per game this season, underwent specialized regenerative treatments in Spain, including multiple injections aimed at accelerating tissue repair. He is scheduled to rejoin the Lakers in Los Angeles on Friday, April 17, ahead of Saturday’s Game 1, though he remains out indefinitely with no confirmed return date. Coach J.J. Redick and team officials continue to emphasize caution to avoid re-injury in what could become a physically demanding first-round series.
A Grade 2 hamstring strain involves partial tearing of muscle fibers, causing significant pain, swelling and weakness without a complete rupture. Standard recovery involves initial rest, inflammation control and progressive rehabilitation, but elite athletes like Doncic often explore advanced options to compress timelines while prioritizing long-term durability.
Sports medicine specialists say the most effective ways to speed recovery include a combination of biologic therapies, structured physical therapy, nutrition optimization, sleep and load management. Doncic’s recent trip to Madrid focused on regenerative approaches more readily available or advanced outside strict U.S. regulations.
Ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and stem cell therapies top the list of interventions. PRP uses concentrated platelets from the patient’s own blood to deliver growth factors that promote healing and reduce inflammation. Stem cell injections, often harvested from bone marrow or adipose tissue, aim to regenerate damaged muscle and tendon tissue. In Europe, doctors can sometimes culture or concentrate these biologics further, potentially enhancing effects compared with standard U.S. protocols where manipulation is more restricted.
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A 2022 study on hamstring injuries found that athletes receiving PRP combined with hematoma aspiration returned to play about nine days faster on average — roughly 23.5 days versus 32.4 days with conventional care. While individual results vary, such treatments have helped high-profile athletes shorten soft-tissue recovery windows.
Physical therapy forms the backbone of any accelerated plan. Once acute pain subsides, controlled eccentric exercises strengthen the hamstring while improving flexibility and neuromuscular control. Progressive loading — gradually increasing intensity, volume and sport-specific movements — helps rebuild resilience without overload. Therapists monitor range of motion, strength symmetry and pain levels daily, using tools like isokinetic testing or force plates for objective data.
Doncic’s history with lower-body injuries, including prior hamstring and calf issues, makes careful progression essential. In past recoveries he has spoken about learning to prioritize full healing over rushing back, a lesson that could guide this process. Experts stress avoiding premature return, as re-injury rates for hamstrings can exceed 30 percent in the NBA if athletes test the tissue too soon.
Nutrition and supplementation play supporting roles. Anti-inflammatory foods rich in omega-3s, antioxidants and collagen — think salmon, berries, turmeric and bone broth — help manage swelling. Protein intake supports muscle repair, while adequate hydration and micronutrients like vitamin C, zinc and magnesium aid collagen synthesis. Some athletes add supplements such as tart cherry extract or curcumin, though evidence is mixed and medical supervision is recommended.
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Sleep and recovery modalities matter enormously at the elite level. Quality rest allows the body to release growth hormone and repair tissue. Techniques like cryotherapy, compression garments, massage and electrical stimulation can reduce soreness and improve circulation without replacing active rehab. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy or infrared saunas occasionally appear in pro protocols, though scientific backing varies.
Load management is critical for a player like Doncic, whose game relies on explosive changes of direction, deceleration and burst speed. Once cleared for on-court work, ramp-up involves non-contact drills, then limited minutes with monitoring for fatigue or compensatory patterns that could strain other areas like the back or opposite leg. Video analysis and wearable technology help track biomechanics and workload.
Mental preparation cannot be overlooked. Hamstring injuries test patience, especially during playoffs. Sports psychologists help athletes manage frustration, maintain confidence and visualize successful return. Doncic’s competitive drive is legendary, but balancing urgency with smart decision-making will determine whether he can contribute meaningfully if the Lakers advance.
Risks of rushing remain high. Returning before full strength and eccentric control increases chances of compensatory injuries or chronic issues. Medical teams typically require pain-free sprinting, cutting, jumping and at least 90 percent strength symmetry before clearance. Even then, minutes restrictions and monitoring continue.
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Doncic’s European treatments reflect a growing trend among NBA stars seeking cutting-edge care abroad. While exact details of his injections remain private, reports indicate multiple sessions focused on biologic enhancement. Upon returning stateside, he will undergo re-evaluation, including imaging and functional testing, to gauge progress.
The Lakers face a tough Houston Rockets squad in the first round starting Saturday. Without Doncic and with Austin Reaves also sidelined by an oblique strain, the team leans heavily on LeBron James and supporting cast. A mid-to-late series return for Doncic could shift dynamics dramatically, but forcing the issue risks derailing both his season and future health.
Longer term, hamstring strains can recur if underlying factors like muscle imbalances, fatigue or training volume are not addressed. Comprehensive off-season programming focusing on posterior chain strength, core stability and mobility will be key for Doncic, who turns 27 later this year and carries a heavy offensive load.
Team medical staff, including physicians, athletic trainers and strength coaches, coordinate every step. Communication between Doncic, his representatives and the Lakers ensures alignment on goals — returning as strong as possible rather than merely as soon as possible.
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Fans and analysts continue debating the ideal timeline. Best-case projections with aggressive regenerative care point to a potential return in three to four weeks, possibly late April or early May. Average scenarios land around five weeks, while conservative approaches stretch toward six or more to ensure durability.
Whatever the path, experts agree the foundation remains the same: respect the injury’s biology, follow evidence-based rehab and listen to the body’s signals. Advanced treatments like those Doncic pursued can offer an edge, but they supplement rather than replace diligent physical therapy and smart progression.
As the playoffs begin without him, Doncic’s focus turns to daily gains in the training room and on the practice court. Lakers supporters hope the combination of European innovation, world-class rehab and the Slovenian star’s renowned work ethic can compress the calendar enough to make a difference before the postseason deepens.
In the high-stakes world of NBA recovery, every percentage point of healing counts. For Luka Doncic, the mission is clear — heal smarter, return stronger and help lift the Lakers when the moment arrives.
DreamWorks SKG co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg and WndrCo general partner Justin Wexler join ‘The Claman Countdown’ to discuss the AI revolution, rising cybersecurity risks and the surge of young innovators reshaping Silicon Valley.
Allbirds on Wednesday announced that the company will pivot from making sneakers to providing computing infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI).
The San Francisco-based company said it will execute a $50 million convertible financing agreement with an institutional investor to begin acquiring graphics processing units (GPUs), which can be used to train AI models.
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The company also plans to rebrand itself as “NewBird AI” and eventually shift its focus to offering cloud computing capacity and AI services, though it didn’t provide additional details on those plans.
Allbirds has closed most of its brick-and-mortar stores in recent months amid soft demand and the company’s focus on online partnerships. The company said last month that it had sold its brand and footwear assets to American Exchange Group for $39 million.
Allbirds is pivoting away from shoes after selling its brand and footwear assets and is moving to focus on AI as it rebrands to NewBird AI. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“As a result of these transactions, the Allbirds brand and legacy will continue under the ownership of American Exchange Group for the benefit of all of its customers, investors as of the dividend record date will receive a special dividend, and investors who elect to continue to hold NewBird AI stock will be invested in a growing AI compute infrastructure business,” the company said in a press release.
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NewBird AI is planning to use initial capital from the financing agreement to acquire high-performance GPUs that will be used to provide dedicated access to AI compute capacity for customers.
Over the long term, NewBird AI wants to provide GPUs as a service as well as AI-powered cloud solutions to its customers, including through the growth of its neocloud platform, while also evaluating strategic opportunities for mergers and acquisitions.
Allbirds’ stock surged on Wednesday following the announcement, rising from a closing price of $2.49 a share as of Tuesday to a recent peak of $21.95 a share during Wednesday’s trading session.
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The stock pared some of its gains on Thursday and is trading at around $12.30 a share, down 27.5% on the day but up 379% in the past five days. Despite that uptick, the stock is down more than 97% in the last five years.
GPUs are used to help train artificial intelligence (AI) models. (iStock)
The company’s announcement explained the opportunity it sees in the AI space, noting that the “rise of AI development and adoption has created unprecedented structural demand for specialized, high-performance compute that the market is struggling to meet. Global enterprise spending on AI services and data center investment are on the rise.”
“At the same time, GPU procurement lead times are increasing for high-end hardware, North American data center vacancy rates have reached historic lows, and market-wide compute capacity coming online through mid-2026 is already fully committed. The result is a market where enterprises, AI developers, and research organizations are unable to secure the compute resources they need to build, train and run AI at scale.”
“NewBird AI is being built to help close that gap. The Company will initially seek to acquire high-performance, low-latency AI compute hardware and provide access under long-term lease agreements, meeting consumer demand that spot markets and hyperscalers are unable to reliably service,” it added.
The owners of Mumbles Pier need more time to build two new pavilions and refurbish the former lifeboat house to create a pop-up restaurant.
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Swansea Council gave family-owned pier company Amusement Equipment Company Ltd planning permission for the scheme in 2021 subject to conditions. The project also involves replacing the bridge leading from the pier to the lifeboat house, which was replaced by a new one at the end of the pier in 2014.
One of the stipulations was that work needed to start within five years and because it hasn’t the company has applied to Swansea Council to push back the start date by a further five years.
The owners also expect an extension can allow them to resolve any outstanding planning conditions. How to accommodate kittiwakes on new nesting ledges on the Grade II-listed structure has been one of the points of discussion. Environment body Natural Resources Wales has previously said Mumbles Pier was one of the largest and most important nesting sites for the birds in Wales.
The old lifeboat house (left) and bridge at Mumbles Pier(Image: Richard Youle )
The 255m-long pier was built in 1898 and the adjacent lifeboat house added in 1922. The pier, which was listed in 1991, originally had two pavilion buildings either side of the walkway near the bridge leading to the lifeboat house. The two new ones are proposed for retail and cafe use.
In 2014 a new £11m lifeboat house and slipway were built by search and rescue charity the RNLI at the end of the pier and the redundant one was acquired by Amusement Equipment Company Ltd. There is said to be potential for boat trips from the old lifeboat house slipway.
Swansea Council’s planning department welcomed the planned public re-use of the lifeboat house when it approved the scheme in 2021.
“Many of the similar period lifeboat houses at Tenby and St Davids which also became redundant with the introduction of the larger Tamar-class lifeboat are listed structures that have been converted to private homes,” it said in a decision report.
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The new RNLI lifeboat base at Mumbles Pier hasn’t housed the Tamar-class lifeboat for more than three years after a structural engineer, according to the RNLI, identified issues with the pier structure. The vessel is on a swing mooring at sea instead.
The pier is closed to the public part-way down. Amusement Equipment Company Ltd restored sections of it several years ago and plans to complete the work. Meanwhile it also has planning consent for flats along the nearby foreshore, a new boardwalk and a headland hotel.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service has contacted the company but it had not responded at the time of publication.
President Donald Trump on Thursday nominated Erica Schwartz to serve as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, concluding a monthslong effort to choose a permanent leader of the embattled health agency.
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Schwartz will have to be confirmed by the Senate, and would take over the role as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. oversees a string of controversial health policy changes at the agency, including an overhaul of childhood vaccine recommendations.
Schwartz served as deputy surgeon general during the first Trump administration, where she played a major role in the U.S. response to the Covid-19 pandemic. She spent more than 20 year in uniform, including as rear admiral and chief medical officer of the Coast Guard.
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya had been acting director of the CDC – a title that expired last month under federal law. That law, called the Vacancies Act, limits the amount of time an acting officer can serve in place of a Senate-confirmed official to 210 days.
Late last month marked 210 days since the most recent CDC director, Dr. Susan Monarez, was fired.
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A sign sits outside of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Roybal campus in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. March 18, 2026.
Megan Varner | Reuters
She has so far been the only person to serve as a confirmed CDC director during Trump’s second term, holding the role for under a month last summer. In congressional testimony in September, Monarez said she was fired after refusing Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s demands to approve vaccine recommendations she believed lacked scientific support.
It is unclear how Schwartz’s views on vaccines or other key public health policies compare with Kennedy’s.
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Also on Thursday, Trump said he chose Sean Slovenski as deputy CDC director and chief operating officer, and Jennifer Shuford as deputy CDC director and chief medical officer. Shuford, as head of the Texas Department of State Health Services, led the state’s response to a massive measles outbreak last year, and credited vaccination and testing in declaring it over.
Schwartz’s nomination comes after a tumultuous several months for the agency, which is reeling from the leadership upheaval, plummeting morale, significant staff turnover and controversial changes to U.S. vaccine policy. Ahead of leadership departures last summer, staff was shaken by a gunman’s attack on the CDC’s Atlanta headquarters on Aug. 8.
Last month, a judge blocked a critical vaccine panel’s efforts to overhaul U.S. immunization policy. That includes an effort to reduce the number of recommended childhood shots from 17 to 11.
Trust in federal health agencies has plummeted during Kennedy’s tenure as Health and Human Services secretary, according to a February poll from health policy research group KFF, with declines across the political spectrum.
OpenTheBooks CEO John Hart joins Varney & Co. to discuss long-term Social Security and Medicare deficits as fiscal pressures mount.
American retirees who are receiving Social Security will see an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) next year, and a new report projects that next year’s benefit increase may be smaller than many retirees expect.
A new analysis by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) predicts that Social Security’s 2027 COLA will be 2.8%, which would be the same benefit boost as the 2026 COLA.
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That would amount to an increase in the average Social Security benefits check for retired workers of $56.69, raising the benefit from $2,024.77 to $2,081.46 per month.
“Americans are right to worry about our current COLA projection,” said TSCL executive director Shannon Benton. “The fact is that most senior households already get by on only about 58% as much income as their working-age counterparts, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a middle-class or working-class American who thinks the economy is doing well right now, especially as oil prices rise.”
The Social Security Administration’s 2027 COLA will be based on inflation data from July, August and September, with an announcement in October. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
The Social Security Administration (SSA) computes the annual Social Security COLA using a variant of inflation data from the consumer price index (CPI) based on the months of July, August and September. The agency announces the COLA each October, although last year’s announcement was delayed by a government shutdown.
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TSCL’s estimate of a 2.8% COLA for 2027 was based on the year-over-year CPI-W reading coming in at 2.2% in both January and February, then rising to 3.3% in March.
Inflation jumped in March largely due to the energy supply shock caused by the Iran war disrupting the flow of oil from the Middle East, as tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was at a standstill due to the conflict.
Economists have warned that inflation may rise further in the next few months and could remain elevated through the end of the year depending on how long the energy impact of the conflict goes on, though there is uncertainty around those projections related to the war’s duration and resolution.
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Social Security’s main trust fund is being depleted due to the aging of America’s population and rising enrollment, causing expenses from benefit payments to rise beyond what the trust fund and incoming payroll tax receipts can cover.
Recent projections estimate it will reach insolvency in 2032, at which time benefits would be cut by an estimated 24% across the board to match incoming revenue.
Social Security’s main trust fund is projected to reach insolvency in 2032. (Mark Felix/The Washington Post)
TSCL also criticized a recent proposal to reform Social Security that would cap annual benefits for higher income Americans at $50,000 for an individual or $100,000 for couples.
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The Six Figure Limit proposal put forward by the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB) would only affect a small fraction of Americans. The group notes that while it wouldn’t significantly delay the insolvency of Social Security trust funds on its own, it could “meaningfully delay insolvency in combination with other reforms.”
TSCL’s Benton said that, “Reforming Social Security needs to follow a two-pronged approach, strengthening revenues and benefits at the same time to ensure prosperity for all Americans, of all ages.”
NEW YORK — The S&P 500 edged higher Thursday, closing at another all-time high near 7,038 as investors brushed aside lingering concerns over the U.S.-Iran conflict and focused on the start of first-quarter earnings season, particularly from technology giants driving artificial intelligence spending.
S&P 500 Climbs to Fresh Record High Near 7038 as Tech Earnings Optimism Overshadows Geopolitical Risks
The benchmark index finished the session at 7,038.24, up 15.29 points or 0.22 percent, marking its latest record close after surging more than 10 percent from late March lows. The modest gain followed Wednesday’s stronger advance when the index first closed above 7,000 for the first time, capping a remarkable recovery fueled by easing fears that the Middle East conflict would severely disrupt global energy supplies or derail economic growth.
The Nasdaq Composite, heavily weighted toward technology stocks, also pushed to fresh records, extending an 11-session winning streak in recent trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged slightly, reflecting mixed performance in more traditional industrial and financial names.
Analysts attributed the resilience to growing confidence that diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and Iran could prevent a worst-case escalation, including any prolonged blockade of the Strait of Hormuz that had earlier sent oil prices spiking. With oil stabilizing around recent levels, investors rotated back into risk assets, particularly those tied to the ongoing AI infrastructure boom.
Corporate earnings provided additional support. Netflix Inc. was among the most anticipated reports after the bell Thursday, with Wall Street expecting revenue growth exceeding 15 percent and continued subscriber momentum from password-sharing crackdowns and advertising tier expansion. Strong results from the streaming leader and other communication services names helped lift the broader market, as investors priced in resilient consumer spending despite higher interest rates.
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Technology remained the clear outperformer. Companies benefiting from hyperscaler demand for GPUs, data centers and AI-related infrastructure continued to draw buying interest. The sector’s projected earnings growth for the first quarter hovered near 45 percent year-over-year in some estimates, far outpacing the S&P 500’s overall forecast of roughly 12.6 percent — marking what could be the sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit profit expansion for the index.
“Earnings momentum, especially in tech and AI-adjacent plays, is giving investors a reason to look past the headlines,” said one strategist at a major Wall Street firm. “The market has recovered all its war-related losses from March and is now testing new highs on the back of solid fundamentals rather than pure hope.”
The rally from late March lows has added trillions in market value, with the S&P 500 erasing earlier 2026 declines that at one point left the index down about 4 percent for the year amid heightened geopolitical tensions and uncertainty over Federal Reserve rate policy. Year-to-date, the benchmark now sits comfortably positive, though gains remain concentrated in a handful of mega-cap names.
Broader participation has improved modestly. While the “Magnificent Seven” stocks still dominate headlines, analysts note early signs of rotation into other sectors as Q1 results roll in. Financials, industrials and consumer discretionary names posted mixed results Thursday, reflecting varied exposure to higher borrowing costs and any potential slowdown in capital spending.
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Bond yields remained relatively stable, with the 10-year Treasury yield hovering near recent levels as traders weighed the balance between resilient growth data and the Fed’s likely path. No rate cut is fully priced in for the near term, but markets continue to anticipate eventual easing if inflation pressures from energy markets subside.
International developments also played a role. Optimism around possible U.S.-Iran negotiations helped calm energy markets, though any breakdown in talks could quickly reignite volatility. European and Asian stocks showed mixed performance overnight, with some regional indices gaining on hopes of contained conflict spillover.
Looking ahead, investors face a packed earnings calendar. Major banks and industrial giants report in coming days, followed by more tech heavyweights. Consensus calls for continued strength in AI-related capital expenditures, with hyperscalers like Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and Google parent Alphabet guiding for hundreds of billions in combined spending this year alone.
Yet risks persist. Valuation concerns linger for high-flying AI stocks after years of rapid gains. Some strategists warn that if earnings growth fails to meet elevated expectations, the market could face a pullback. Geopolitical flare-ups, sticky inflation or slower-than-expected economic data could also test the recent optimism.
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Smaller companies in the Russell 2000 lagged the large-cap benchmarks again Thursday, underscoring the narrow breadth that has characterized much of the rally. Value-oriented sectors have struggled to keep pace with growth names, prompting some fund managers to advocate for greater diversification.
For individual investors, the S&P 500’s climb to new highs reinforces its role as a core long-term holding. The index has historically delivered strong returns over multi-year periods despite periodic corrections, with many 401(k) plans heavily tied to broad market exposure.
Thursday’s trading volume was solid but not extreme, suggesting steady institutional participation rather than frantic retail buying. Options activity showed elevated interest in near-term protection, reflecting caution even amid the upbeat mood.
The S&P 500’s 52-week range now spans from roughly 5,100 earlier in the cycle to the current record territory above 7,000, illustrating both the depth of last year’s gains and the speed of the 2026 recovery. Market capitalization of U.S. equities has swelled, adding significant paper wealth to retirement accounts and institutional portfolios.
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As the trading day wound down, futures pointed to a modestly higher open Friday, with focus shifting to any late-breaking news from Netflix’s earnings call and forward guidance. A beat on subscriber adds or advertising revenue could further embolden bulls, while cautious commentary on content spending or churn might temper enthusiasm.
Economists continue to monitor consumer resilience. Recent data showed steady spending despite higher prices in certain categories, supporting the soft-landing narrative that has underpinned much of Wall Street’s rebound.
In summary, Thursday’s modest advance to a fresh record capped a strong two-week stretch for the S&P 500, driven by de-escalation hopes in the Middle East, anticipation of robust corporate profits and the enduring appeal of technology and AI themes. Whether the momentum sustains will depend on the earnings deluge ahead and any fresh developments on the global stage.
The benchmark’s ability to push through 7,000 and keep climbing highlights the market’s capacity for rapid recovery when fear subsides and fundamentals reassert themselves. For now, bulls remain in control, though many participants stand ready to reassess at the first sign of disappointment.
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