AP National Sports

By JAMES ELLINGWORTH AP Sports Writer Anthony Joshua has never fought a challenger like Oleksandr Usyk. The unbeaten Ukrainian matches slick footwork with a quirky sense of humor. He is notoriously hard to hit. Usyk is fighting Joshua in London on Saturday as the mandatory challenger for the British fighter’s WBO belt. No Ukrainian has

By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer HOUSTON (AP) — Rookie Davis Mills will start at quarterback for the Houston Texans on Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers with Tyrod Taylor out with a hamstring injury. Coach David Culley announced the decision Tuesday and said Taylor would be inactive. Later Tuesday the Texans placed Taylor on

By The Associated Press MLB Calendar

By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer LONDON (AP) — Hungary has been ordered by FIFA to play its next World Cup qualifier without spectators as punishment for the latest racial abuse and disorder by its supporters when England played in Budapest. The Hungarian federation has also been fined 200,000 Swiss francs, one of the

FULLERTON, Calif. (AP) — The widow of Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda has died. The team says Jo Lasorda died Monday night at her home in Fullerton, California. No cause was given. The former Joan Miller met Tommy Lasorda at a minor league baseball game in her hometown of Greenville, South Carolina, where he

LONDON (AP) — The NFL will stage an international combine for 50 athletes from 14 countries next month in London. The invitational scouting showcase is mirrored after the annual NFL combine usually held in Indianapolis. The idea is to find international athletes who have the skillset and potential to play in the league. It will

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer J.J. Redick, the sharpshooter who was The Associated Press college player of the year at Duke before embarking on a 15-season NBA career, announced his retirement Tuesday. The 37-year-old Redick played with six NBA teams. He spent time with Orlando, the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Milwaukee and

By The Associated Press (AP) — The biggest event in golf has nothing to do with money. The Ryder Cup returns after being postponed one year by the pandemic. Europe has won nine of the last 12 and will try to win on U.S. soil for the first time since 2012. The Ryder Cup is

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia has suspended eight players from its men’s national junior handball team for behavior likened to “treason” after alleging they had been in contact with bookmakers. The Russian Handball Federation hasn’t specified exactly what the players are accused of doing but says the board will meet to discuss “the fight against unsporting

PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain says Lionel Messi will miss the next French league game against last-place Metz after a knock to his left knee. PSG says the Argentina star underwent a scan which confirmed “the signs of bone contusion.” PSG added a new assessment of Messi’s condition will be made in 48 hours. Messi

INNSBRUCK, Austria (AP) — Ski jumping record-holder Gregor Schlierenzauer has retired only a few months before trying to compete at his fourth Olympics. The 31-year-old Austrian is a two-time winner of both the overall World Cup title and the prestigious Four Hills tournament. He says he made his decision after having time to reflect during

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN AP Sports Writer There has always been a rich tradition of great defenders at Marseille even though the nine-time French champion’s motto of “Straight to Goal” is an ode to attacking soccer. It was defender Basile Boli who scored the only goal in the 1993 Champions League final against AC Milan to

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer The son of Australia rugby great Michael Lynagh has been included in England’s enlarged training group ahead of the November tests. Louis Lynagh is a 20-year-old winger who was born in Italy, grew up in London, and has come through the English rugby system to play for Harlequins in

TORONTO (AP) — The rear-view mirror is something Toronto stars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are doing their best to ignore as the NHL season approaches. The Maple Leafs’ latest playoff failure was a stunning first-round collapse against the Montreal Canadiens. It happened just four months ago. Both players say they can only look forward.

By The Associated Press Kevin Gausman returns to the mound — and plate — as he tries to help the Giants protect their lead in the NL West. Gausman is lined up to start at Petco Park against the wild card-contending Padres. San Francisco holds a one-game edge over the Los Angeles Dodgers for the

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer PHOENIX (AP) — Austin Riley had three doubles and three RBIs, Adam Duvall added a two-run homer and the Atlanta Braves extended their lead in the NL East by beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 11-4. The Braves pushed their advantage to three games over the Philadelphia Phillies, who lost 2-0

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Houston Astros moved closer to the AL West title with a 10-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. Framber Valdez pitched seven innings of six-hit ball and Marwin González launched a grand slam in Houston’s fifth win in six games. Martin Maldonado hit a

By JANIE McCAULEY AP Baseball Writer OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Kyle Seager had a two-run double in the decisive third inning among his three hits and three RBIs, Mitch Haniger added two doubles and the Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics 4-2. Tyler Anderson struck out seven and walked one over seven impressive innings, allowing

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson starting defensive tackle Tyler Davis will miss up to two months with a torn bicep tendon, and reserve tailback Lyn-J Dixon plans to transfer, coach Dabo Swinney said Monday. Davis has started 22 games in his career, including the past two. Swinney said he played throughout a 14-8 win over

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Detroit Lions’ new coach and quarterback are off to a start that resembles the team’s previous regimes. Detroit brought in Dan Campbell to replace the fired Matt Patricia. When longtime quarterback Matthew Stafford wanted out, the Lions sent him to the Los Angeles