Carmelo Anthony is signing a non-guaranteed deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, a source told ESPN.

The Blazers have tried at different times in the past to add Anthony and made an attempt to acquire him when he was with the Knicks.

Portland is lagging at the bottom of the Western Conference standings with a 4-8 record, having lost its past two games.

Anthony, 35, will join the Blazers on their upcoming six-game road trip, which starts Saturday against San Antonio, a source said.

Power forward was the position where the Blazers were most vulnerable, and an injury to Zach Collins only amplified the void there. Anthony returns to fill that need.

Anthony could fit in well with the Trail Blazers, who have struggled to get production from their forwards this season. They rank 27th in points per game (36.3), tied for 28th in assists per game (5.5) and last in field goal percentage (39%).

The Trail Blazers' isolation-heavy offense also could benefit with Anthony on board. Portland is second in the NBA in points per chance in isolation.

Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard said in September that the team has its sights set on an NBA title, and that's something Anthony has yet to achieve. He is one of 17 players in NBA history with 25,000 points and 6,500 rebounds; only four have not won an NBA title -- Karl Malone, Elvin Hayes, Dominique Wilkins and Anthony.

There was a time following his release by the Houston Rockets when Anthony said he questioned whether he wanted to play again, but he told ESPN's Stephen A. Smith in August that he was ready to return.

"I'm in the gym every single day," Anthony said. He also noted that "silence is not my surrender" and that he has been quiet until now because he felt he needed to step away from the game to "reevaluate myself, reevaluate my career, reevaluate my life."

Anthony, a 10-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA player, suited up most recently for the Rockets, for a 10-game stint that ended early in the 2018 season.

In addition to the Rockets, Anthony has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets, with his greatest success coming with the Knicks and Nuggets.

Anthony won the league's scoring title in the 2012-13 season, averaging 28.7 points per game. That season was the last time the Knicks made the playoffs and began a five-season absence from the postseason for Anthony, who had made the playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons over his time in Denver and New York.

It is 6am at a London hotel and Sonny Bill Williams has just completed the dawn Fajr prayer and is sitting on his mat.

"When I hold my hands up afterwards, I am asking: 'Ya Allah, please guide me. Keep me strong. Help me become a better person. Help me become a better man,'" he says.

"'I know I have my frailties, but strengthen me. Forgive me for my sins. Ya Allah, bless my close ones and those around me. Keep them safe, especially the children. Keep us where our feet are and grateful for what we have.'"

It is 10 years since Williams became a Muslim while playing for Toulon in France after a period in his life where he was "wild and at the other end of the spectrum" to where he is now.

Super League newcomers Toronto Wolfpack's marquee signing seems content with his life, in a happy place having returned to rugby league after five years in rugby union.

The North American side's general manager reels off Williams' accomplishments across four disciplines: two World Cups in rugby union with New Zealand; playing rugby sevens at the 2016 Olympics; winning multiple National Rugby League (NRL) titles in rugby league; and winning New Zealand's heavyweight boxing title.

The 34-year-old spends half an hour fielding questions during an introductory news conference at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, greeting journalists in English, Arabic and Samoan, talking about "humility" having become the highest-earning player in the history of either code, and "earning the respect" of his team-mates.

Williams is a man mountain, standing at 6ft 4in and weighing 17st 5lbs, and he dominates a room - but his imposing physique is in complete contrast to his modest, soft-spoken character.

"Alhamdulillah (thanking God) means everything," he tells BBC Sport. "Drinking a glass of water - Alhamdulillah. Having an opportunity to speak to you - Alhamdulillah. Seeing my wife and kids - Alhamdulillah. I always have my creator in the front of my mind.

"Sometimes I keep my head down on the ground in sujood (prostration) because I know Jesus, Moses and the Prophet Muhammad were in that position.

"Look, I chased girls. I drank alcohol, spent lavishly and thought I was someone that I wasn't. I lived that life and, in my experience, what did it give me? Hollowness and emptiness in my heart."

Williams, who met his team-mates for the first time on Wednesday in Manchester, adds: "It took a few years for the process, but I found Allah, I found Islam and it really allowed me to turn the wildness in myself into positivity.

"With the way that I have driven as a sportsman to succeed, those two together have allowed me to reach where I am today."

Williams says there is no feeling like the "genuine love" of a fellow elite sportsman who is also Muslim. Fiorentina winger Franck Ribery is someone he "keeps in contact with on social media", while he is "quite close" to former South Africa batsman and captain Hashim Amla.

"In today's society it is no secret that a lot of us Muslims have been forced to almost be embarrassed to be Muslim.

"For me, I am so proud to be a Muslim - the honesty that it has, what it stands for and what it can give. When I see other sportsmen who are out there and proud, wow it is such a beautiful thing."

In March, an attack by a gunman at a mosque in Christchurch saw 51 people killed and Williams shared a tearful message on social media in which he expressed his "deep sadness" and hoped those who died "went to paradise".

A week after the shootings, Williams visited the city and met members of the community as an act of solidarity.

"Being one of the most high-profile Muslims in New Zealand and playing for the national team, the All Blacks, at the time, I knew that it was my duty," he says.

"I am a pretty shy guy but I had to step up, and I knew I had to be vulnerable in that space. I stepped up and represented not just the Muslim community that was hurting, but also the New Zealand community.

"I thought that if I could step into that space, a difficult one to navigate through at the time, and just preach the positivity - but also tell them it is real, it hurts but what can we do to move forward in a better way?

"As New Zealanders, we have done that and are leading in that space - and I am proud to say I was a part of that."

As he approaches the latest test of his distinguished career, almost 9,000 miles away from home, how does Williams feel about the move and how would he like to be remembered?

"I was really humbled and grateful for the opportunity. It is a really exciting opportunity for myself as a sportsman. Yes, there is a lot of pressure but what better way for a sportsman to try achieving something in this arena?

"'Legacy' is not a word that I like. I am just a guy out there who has done his best, who was real, kept it authentic, but liked to take on challenges."

Last year, Williams performed the minor Umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, describing the trip as an "awesome experience".

He says: "Mecca is so special, seeing the Kaaba for the first time and then experiencing the serenity and calmness of Medina.

"Yes, I am a Kiwi, a New Zealander, Samoan - but a human being. That is what Islam offers. It is there for all of mankind. I prayed next to an African brother, an Asian, a European, a Middle Eastern, from all walks of life.

"You are in your robes so there are no levels of society, everyone is equal, that is probably the biggest thing."

Watch Sonny Bill Williams - Faith, Family and Footy on BBC iPlayer from 09:00 GMT on Saturday.

MIAMI — When the entry list for the 79th annual Turkey Night Grand Prix hit the presses late Wednesday night, there was a notable omission in the form of reigning event winner Christopher Bell.

As it turns out, that absence wasn’t just a case of Bell waiting to make a late entry into the crown jewel event.

Bell confirmed Thursday during NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship 4 Media Day at the Miami Beach Edition Hotel that he will not head west to Ventura Raceway following the season-ending Ford EcoBoost 300 to defend his Turkey Night victory from one year ago.

The Nov. 28 race will mark the first Turkey Night Grand Prix that won’t feature the previous year’s winner since 2013, when 2012 winner Kyle Larson wasn’t in the field at Perris Auto Speedway.

“I’m sure there’s a car available out there for me,” Bell noted, “but I don’t plan on going to Placerville (Speedway for the Hangtown 100) and I actually won’t defend my Turkey Night win this year either.

“I am disappointed, on one hand, because I love going to Ventura and it’s really fun to go race on a beach. That’s not something you get to do very often,” he added. “But I get to spend Thanksgiving with my family this year for the first time in a very long time, so that will be really enjoyable.”

With Bell not racing Turkey Night this year, it leaves two-time winner Larson as the favorite to win and join the Norman, Okla., native as a three-time champion of the Thanksgiving night event in the process.

All three of Bell’s Turkey Night wins have come after battles with Larson, something he nodded to during his media session.

“Merry Christmas (to him),” Bell said of his longtime rival.

So with Bell ruling out the West Coast USAC swing, when is the next time dirt fans will see him in a midget prior to his quest for a fourth-straight Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals crown?

“Gateway,” Bell confirmed. “That will be the next time I’m in a midget.”

The Gateway Dirt Nationals will be run Dec. 19-21 inside The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis.

CONCORD, N.C. – Nineteen-year-old Mason Daniel will join the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series as a full-time rookie contender in 2020.

Daniel, from Springville, Calif., will run the WoO schedule with his own Mason Daniel Racing team.

He’s had a short racing career, so far, running his first sprint car race at the end of 2017. Daniel picked up two wins in a 360 c.i. sprint car in 2018 and then transitioned to 410 c.i. cars this year, starting nine races with the World of Outlaws in 2019.

Daniel earned a career-best WoO finish of 15th at Dodge City Raceway Park in September.

The teenager is well aware of his experience level. His hope is to play the long game, learning from the stars of the Outlaws throughout the 90-plus race schedule each year.

“I think you realize if you want to be the best you have to race with the best and obviously that’s the World of Outlaws,” Daniel said. “You’re not going to be competitive right away, especially against those guys. Either you wait a couple of years and then get your butt kicked or you start at it now and eventually in a couple of years you’re good enough to run with them. The sooner we start racing with them the better we’ll be in the long run.”

By Daniel’s side for the whole tour as his mentor and crew chief will be 2001 World of Outlaws champion Danny “The Dude” Lasoski.

The 122-time World of Outlaws winner has been working with Daniel the past two years. It’s a role Lasoski said he knew he wanted to take on when he was done racing. He met Daniel a few years ago when the teenager and his father lent him an engine to run the Trophy Cup in California.

Daniel helped work on his car and the two became acquainted. When Daniel told Lasoski his plan to race winged and non-winged sprint cars in California, Lasoski proposed an alternative plan.

He suggested Daniel move to the Midwest to race winged sprint cars only and offered to mentor him. Soon after, Daniel relocated his team to Missouri.

“He had a desire,” Lasoski said. “He wasn’t a here today, gone tomorrow kind of kid … His father came to me and said, ‘The end goal is Mason wants to be a professional race car driver and be a Donny Schatz.’ I said, ‘Well, the only way to do it is to race with the best of the best, night in night out.’

“The bottom line is you’re going to get your ass kicked. Everybody does. I did,” Lasoski added. “But to be the best you have to beat the best. That’s how we got this whole thing going.”

Lasoski acknowledged that Daniel is being “thrown to the wolves” next year, but his young driver understands that. He’s embraced it and is taking his preparations seriously.

“It’s refreshing to be honest with you, because I see it every single day,” Lasoski said. “He works in the shop with us every day. And I told him that I’m not interested in doing this if he’s not as interested as I was. He works out every day. I told him this is going to be a grind. You’re going to have to be prepared for it. He’s doing everything we’re asking and he’s learning every day just like the rest of us.

“The first time you think you know everything is the first time you’re going to get your ass kicked.”

Five years ago, Daniel knew nothing about racing or what a sprint car even was. He just wanted to drive his grandfather’s 1969 Chevelle.

That desire turned into a bet by his father, who half-jokingly said he couldn’t drive the Chevelle until he drove a family member’s race car.

Daniel took the bet and is now a World of Outlaws driver and team owner.

“It’s definitely overwhelming, but in a good way,” Daniel said. “A little nerve-racking and such. I’m definitely looking forward to it a lot. The pleasure of racing sprint cars with these guys definitely relieves the stress of everything.”

He’s excited for the travel and to visit new tracks. However, the nine-month schedule of racing across more than 20 states will be an adjustment for he and Lasoski, who hasn’t raced full-time with the World of Outlaws for about 10 years.

One of the toughest aspects Daniel will have to deal with is the mental highs and lows a driver goes through during the long season, Lasoski said.

“It’s not only hard on Mason, and every one that supports him, but it’s hard on the crew and everybody to stay focused and not get down on each other and stay positive,” Lasoski said. “I say, ‘Hey, we may not have done good tonight, but tomorrow is another night.’ Because the moral I’m trying to instill in my guys is, when the checkered flag falls, there’s nothing, and I mean nothing, any of us can do about the results. We just have to come back and work harder.”

Daniel’s goal for 2020 is to learn as much as he can and try to make his way into the top-10 and top-five on a regular basis.

He said that Lasoski told him once he’s running up front, a win will eventually come.

“We’d just like to bridge that gap and run competitively with those guys,” Daniel said.

MIAMI – Though Cole Custer’s name was all over the news on Thursday, the Stewart-Haas Racing driver deflected questions about his future during Championship 4 Media Day at the Miami Beach Edition Hotel.

Multiple media outlets have reported that Custer, who is contending for the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, will move up to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2020 to replace Daniel Suarez behind the wheel of the No. 41 Ford Mustang.

But, asked twice about what his future may hold by reporters, Custer offered no answers and simply turned his focus back to the task at hand – Saturday’s title-deciding Ford EcoBoost 300.

“Right now, I’m just trying to focus on the championship,” Custer said. “I’ve really tried to stay out of it. Honestly, this is a really big weekend for us, to (potentially) win a championship in the Xfinity Series … so if we can do that, then that’s probably my focus this next week.”

Pressed on a hypothetical about Cup expectations for 2020, Custer did offer some slight insight into his thoughts, but still played his cards close to the vest.

“That’s a tough question. You kind of just have to take it one week at a time,” Custer said. “Everybody wants to run (well); nobody wants to run bad, so I think it’s just something you have to figure out when you get there.”

Custer is a seven-time winner in Xfinity Series competition this season and is in the midst of the best statistical year of his NASCAR career, but he does have some past experience in Cup Series machinery.

The 21-year-old from Ladera Ranch, Calif., made three Cup starts for Rick Ware Racing in 2018, piloting a Ford with support from Stewart-Haas Racing.

His best finish was 25th at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway in his series debut, but Custer did qualify 10th at Richmond (Va.) Raceway during his most recent Cup appearance in September of that year.

Custer has raced full time in the Xfinity Series in each of the past three seasons, while the driver he’s reported to be supplanting – 27-year-old Suarez – earned the Xfinity Series championship in 2016 before advancing to the Cup Series with Joe Gibbs Racing the following year.

In three seasons at the Cup Series level, Suarez has earned a best finish of second at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway in 2018. This year is his first with Stewart-Haas Racing behind the wheel of the No. 41 Ford.

Update:

Daniel Suarez has confirmed that he will not return to Stewart-Haas Racing via a video posted to his personal Twitter account.

A message for my fans ?? pic.twitter.com/GrnRGAmpFa

— Daniel Suárez (@Daniel_SuarezG) November 14, 2019

MYERSTOWN, Pa. – For a fourth consecutive season, Brent Marks will leave Pennsylvania behind and hit the highway with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series as a full-time competitor.

Marks, the reigning National Open champion at Williams Grove Speedway worth an unprecedented $65,000, has been a staple with the Greatest Show On Dirt since making his full-time debut in 2017.

Despite his 2019 campaign coming to a close less than a week prior to Thursday night’s announcement, Marks’ mind has long been made up about returning in 2020.

“We are thrilled to be back,” said Marks, a four-time World of Outlaws feature winner. “I’m excited to rejoin the World of Outlaws in 2020. I have a lot of great partners who make a journey like this possible and I’m excited to share my experiences with them.”

The LA Galaxy's Efrain Alvarez scored Mexico's late equalizer as El Tri advanced to the Under-17 World Cup final, drawing 1-1 against the Netherlands and winning 4-3 on penalties on Thursday in Brazil.

Alvarez came off the bench in the 73rd minute and curled a free kick over the wall to level the scores in the 79th, just five minutes after Youri Regeer had handed Netherlands the lead.

Regeer saw his penalty -- the Netherlands' sixth -- saved by Mexico keeper Eduardo Garcia, who stopped three penalties in total, to send Mexico to its third U17 World Cup final in the last eight years.

"We came to win and with a winning mentality," Garcia said after the game. "We all did our bit, not just one player, we all played our part."

Mexico will face the winner of host Brazil and France in Thursday's second semifinal, with the final set for Sunday, also in Brasilia.

"We go to win, to enjoy it and with the mentality that we want to win it," added Garcia.

The Netherlands had the better chances and 63% of possession over the 90 minutes, but spurned a series of good chances in the second half.

Regeer shot over when he was free inside the box in the 57th and saw an effort from a corner rebound off the crossbar five minutes later.

But Mexico responded to the setback of Regeer tapping in from close range, with Alvarez netting his fourth goal of the tournament to take the game to penalties.

Alvarez -- who drew praise from Zlatan Ibrahimovic during his season with the Galaxy -- attempted a Panenka with Mexico's first penalty, but it was easily saved by Netherlands keeper Calvin Raatsie.

Aside from Regeer, Jayden Braaf, and Mohamed Taabouni both failed to convert for the Netherlands, with Joel Gomez seeing his penalty saved for Mexico.

England forward Raheem Sterling came to the defence of England teammate Joe Gomez after some Three Lions supporters booed the Liverpool player when he took the field during a 7-0 Euro 2020 qualifying win against Montenegro on Thursday.

Manchester City's Sterling, who was dropped by England manager Gareth Southgate after an altercation with Gomez in the canteen at the national team's St George's Park training ground on Monday, accepted blame for the incident and said the fans that booed were in the wrong.

Gomez and Sterling had squared up the day before during Liverpool's 3-1 win over City at Anfield in a top-of-the-table Premier League clash.

Sterling watched England secure qualification for the Euro 2020 finals from the stands, but took to social media after hearing some fans target Gomez with booing.

"To all the England fans, I wanted to leave things as it was but tonight I have to speak again: it was hard for me to see my team mate get booed for something that was my fault," Sterling wrote on Twitter.

To all the @England fans, I wanted to leave things at it was but tonight I have to speak again : it was hard for me to see my team mate get booed for something that was my fault. Joe hasn't done anything wrong & for me to see someone who keeps his head down and work hard..

— Raheem Sterling (@sterling7) November 14, 2019

"Joe hasn't done anything wrong and for me to see someone who keeps his head down and works hard, especially after a difficult week for him, to be booed when he came on tonight was wrong.

"I've taken full responsibility and accepted the consequence. I felt as though I had to say this."

Southgate said he did not understand why some fans had picked on Gomez.

"No England player should ever be booed. We are a team and Joe has done nothing wrong, I made that clear earlier in the week so I don't understand that," Southgate said.

"Him and Raheem are very close and the whole team are very close so we don't want to see anybody treated that way."

Information from Reuters was used in this story.

Steven Smith is in line to make his first BBL appearance in six years after rejoining the Sydney Sixers with the Australian schedule allowing a small window for internationals to appear.

Smith, who was part of the Sixers team that won the first BBL and last appeared in 2014, could be available for the final two regular season matches following Australia's ODI tour of India in mid-January and then the finals series if the Sixers make it that far.

Australia's last ODI in India is on January 19 with the Sixers then having matches on January 23 (Brisbane Heat) and January 25 (Melbourne Renegades) before the finals.

"When the schedule came out and I saw there was a chance to wear the Magenta again I jumped at the opportunity and look forward to joining up with the team after my January national team commitments have ended," Smith said.

Smith has recently showcased his T20 skills with a brilliant unbeaten 80 off 51 balls in the run chase against Pakistan in Canberra alongside another unbeaten fifty against Sri Lanka in what were his first T20Is for three and a half years.

"While I know the fans will and should be excited by this development, our players will benefit from his skills, support and perspectives on the game," the Sixers head coach Greg Shipperd said. "Steve was instrumental in our recruitment of Josh Philippe and Josh, along with other youngsters in our squad like Jack Edwards, Lloyd Pope, Tom Curran and Justin Avendano, will be the better for sharing a dressing room with an Australian great."

To make room for Smith in their squad, the Sixers have released New South Wales captain and former Australia wicketkeeper Peter Nevill.

"In making this calculated move we will be saying goodbye to another foundation member in Peter Nevill who has given great service to the club over many seasons," Shipperd said. "Peter enjoys the sincere respect of all within the Sixers family for the effort, energy, performance and professionalism he has displayed.