AP National Sports

BRUSSELS (AP) — Romelu Lukaku has been selected in Belgium’s 26-man squad for the World Cup even though the striker is carrying a left thigh injury and has played only five games for Inter Milan this season. Belgium coach Roberto Martinez has said he is prepared to call up Lukaku as long as he can

BRUSSELS (AP) — Romelu Lukaku has been selected in Belgium’s 26-man squad for the World Cup even though the striker is carrying a left thigh injury and has played only five games for Inter Milan this season. Belgium coach Roberto Martinez has said he is prepared to call up Lukaku as long as he can

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer The New York Jets, New York Giants and Miami Dolphins could end long playoff droughts while the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams and reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers are well below .500. These aren’t the NFL standings anyone envisioned before the season. It’s not unusual for

By KEN MAGUIRE AP Sports Writer MUNICH (AP) — The NFL’s popularity in Germany has been growing at a rapid pace. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will play the Seahawks at Allianz Arena in Munich on Sunday in the first-ever regular-season NFL game in Germany. Over the next three seasons, Munich will host another one and

By MARK ANDERSON AP Sports Writer HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and receiver Davante Adams put up career numbers last season. They also were record-setting teammates at Fresno State. But since the Raiders traded with Green Bay for Adams, the expected high-powered offense has been stuck in neutral. Carr’s numbers

By ERIC OLSON and HANK KURZ Jr. AP Sports Writers College athletic programs are reacting to soaring inflation the same way as everyone else — they’re looking for ways big and small to save money. In the Power Five, home of college sports’ biggest budgets and most considerable resources, schools are working with boosters and

By JOSH BOAK and HANNAH FINGERHUT Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — In Massachusetts, Democrats and Republicans could find an issue to agree on: letting bars have happy hours. Commonwealth law bans bars and other establishments from having special discounts on beer, wine and liquor. AP VoteCast shows a majority of voters, about 6 in 10,

SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) — Southampton has hired Nathan Jones as the manager after he decided to leave second-tier team Luton. Jones has a tough first game in charge as Southampton heads to Liverpool at Anfield before a break for the World Cup. Southampton fired Ralph Hasenhüttl on Monday with the team in third-to-last place in

By LUJAIN JO and JON GAMBRELL Associated Press DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The outspoken CEO of Qatar Airways has lashed out at critics of his country hosting the upcoming FIFA World Cup, saying his nation will “always rub salt into the wound” of its adversaries. Akbar Al Baker’s comments Thursday show the increasingly confrontational stance

By RIZKI DWI PUTRA Associated Press MALANG, Indonesia (AP) — Thousands of people in Indonesia have rallied to demand justice and a thorough investigation into those they blame for the stampede at Kanjuruhan soccer stadium in East Java’s Malang city that left 135 people dead. Supporters of Arema FC started the rally with the prayer

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper is set to have his damaged right elbow checked next week to see whether surgery will be needed. The two-time NL MVP tore an elbow ligament in April and couldn’t play the outfield for the rest of the year. Harper will meet with prominent orthopedist Dr.

By CAMERON SALERNO Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Domantas Sabonis scored 21 points and the Sacramento Kings beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 127-120. Donovan Mitchell scored 38 points for the Cavaliers, who have lost two in a row following an eight-game winning streak. Harrison Barnes had a season-high 20 points for Sacramento. Barnes had zero

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James had 30 points and eight rebounds before leaving the court gingerly with less than five minutes to play in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 114-101 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Lakers said James felt discomfort in his left leg. He appeared to

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Kirill Kaprizov scored two power-play goals and the Minnesota Wild continued their dominance over the Anaheim Ducks with a 4-1 victory Wednesday night. The game was tied 1-1 after two periods before the Wild took control. Matt Dumba scored the go-ahead goal 1:21 into the

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Led by Kristian Sjolund’s 20 points, the Portland Pilots defeated the Florida A&M Rattlers 91-54. The Pilots are now 2-0 with the victory and the Rattlers fell to 0-2.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Led by Seikou Sisoho Jawara’s 22 points, the San Diego Toreros defeated the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles 79-73. The Toreros moved to 2-0 with the win and the Eagles dropped to 1-1.

By BRIAN MELLEY Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — The effort to legalize sports betting in California ran headlong into a typical challenge for competing ballot measures as they were battered by negative advertising that doomed both to spectacular failure in the most expensive ballot race in U.S. history. With more than 5 million votes

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Led by Matt Dentlinger’s 19 points, the South Dakota State Jackrabbits defeated the Boise State Broncos 68-66. The Jackrabbits are now 1-1 on the season, while the Broncos dropped to 0-1.

SYDNEY (AP) — Rafael Nadal and world No. 1-ranked Iga Swiatek were among the top players who had their pre-Australian Open tournament destinations set when the draw was held for the new United Cup mixed teams event. Nadal will team with world No. 13 Paula Badosa for Spain. They are headed to Sydney and will