AP National Sports

DENVER (AP) — Russell Westbrook sat out the Los Angeles Lakers’ game Wednesday night at Denver to rest a sore left hamstring. Lakers coach Darvin Ham announced the plan before the game to take a precautionary route with Westbrook’s injury. The Los Angeles guard is mired in a slump, shooting just 28.9% from the floor.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz apologized Wednesday night for publicly criticizing a reporter who asked him about his decision to keep son Brian Ferentz as offensive coordinator with the Hawkeyes’ offense performing so poorly this season. Ferentz, umprompted, had said at his weekly news conference Tuesday that he had experienced an

By W.G. RAMIREZ Associated Press HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Last year and at the start of this season, Las Vegas Raiders second-year linebacker Divine Deablo used to focus on analytical websites, paying attention to his grades. Now he focuses on making his coaches happy. While Deablo ranks 55th out of 79 linebackers on Pro Football

By DENNIS PASSA AP Sports Writer BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — The Australian men’s soccer team has issued a three-minute video highlighting Qatar’s human rights record involving the treatment of foreign workers and restrictions on the LGBTQI+ community and demanding genuine reform as a legacy of the Gulf country’s staging of the World Cup. In the

By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kyle Schwarber’s power surge has fueled the Philadelphia Phillies in their run to the World Series. He will be the leadoff hitter for Game 1 Friday night in Houston against the Astros. He led the National League with 46 home runs this season and hit three

By TERESA M. WALKER AP Pro Football Writer NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Ryan Tannehill walked out wearing sneakers Wednesday to talk to reporters with no hint of a limp. Then the Tennessee Titans quarterback spent the next few minutes sidestepping questions about his sprained right ankle just as he dodges pass rushers trying to take

By GONZALO SOLANO Associated Press SANGOLQUI, Ecuador (AP) — The youth academy pitches of Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle have been a key source for Ecuador’s national team at the World Cup. Among the 28 players chosen by coach Gustavo Alfaro for two friendlies in September, 12 came from youth divisions of the 64-year-old club which

By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Christian McCaffrey just wanted to make sure he knew his limited plays well enough to line up in the correct spot and run them properly for his debut with the San Francisco 49ers. McCaffrey will be a much bigger part of the game

By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Saints coach Dennis Allen has decided that Andy Dalton will remain the New Orleans Saints starting quarterback for a fifth straight week. Allen says season-opening starter Jameis Winston is healthy enough to return, but that New Orleans offense has been moving the ball effectively and

By JANIE McCAULEY AP Sports Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The eighth-ranked UCLA men’s basketball team has been picked to win the Pac-12. The Bruins received 26 first-place votes from a 33-person media panel. No. 17 Arizona, No. 21 Oregon, Southern California and Stanford rounded out the top five. The Wildcats and Ducks each received

By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Pro Football Writer MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Dalvin Cook had a 53-yard touchdown run to help Minnesota finish off Miami on Oct. 16 before the Vikings had their bye week. He punctuated the moment by hurling the ball into the seats behind the end zone. The Vikings picked up a 24-16 victory

By ANDREW SELIGMAN and ROB MAADDI AP Sports Writers LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The undefeated Philadelphia Eagles have acquired three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Robert Quinn from the Chicago Bears. Chicago gets a fourth-round pick in 2023 in return. The 32-year-old Quinn is off to a slow start with just one sack and three

LONDON (AP) — Tottenham had a last-gasp winner against Sporting Lisbon ruled out by VAR and had to settle for a 1-1 draw in the Champions League, meaning it faces a nervous final group game against Marseille to secure qualification to the round of 16. Harry Kane sparked huge celebrations when firing home deep into

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — Barcelona was eliminated from the Champions League even before kicking off against Bayern Munich. The five-time European champion then endured another 3-0 beating. Atlético Madrid is also out after an extraordinary sequence around a missed stoppage-time penalty in a 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen. Porto advanced

By MARK LONG AP Pro Football Writer JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Coach Doug Pederson insists the Jacksonville Jaguars never shopped demoted running back James Robinson. He says the New York Jets called Monday to inquire about a trade and the Jaguars were faced with a tough decision. They chose to move on from a popular

COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — JC Jackson was placed on injured reserve by the Los Angeles Chargers after he had surgery for a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee on Wednesday. The team signed linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu to fill the open roster spot. Jackson’s knee appeared to give out as he was attempting to

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The disappointment was etched all over Matt Ryan’s face. Two days after learning he had been benched by Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich, Ryan told reporters he was surprised and shocked. Second-year quarterback Sam Ehligner will replace the 15-year veteran as the starter Sunday against Washington.

MADRID (AP) — Atlético Madrid missed a penalty that was awarded after the final whistle as the Spanish club was eliminated from the Champions League following a 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen. Atlético twice recovered from a goal down against Leverkusen but needed to win to avoid its first group-stage exit for five years. The

NAPLES, Italy (AP) — Giovanni Simeone scored two goals as Napoli beat Rangers 3-0 in the Champions League for a club record 12th consecutive victory in all competitions. The only other Argentinian player to score four goals in their first four matches in the Champions League was Giovanni’s father Diego Simeone. Leo Østigård marked his