AP National Sports

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer MIAMI (AP) — Zion Williamson had a simple message after New Orleans’ preseason game in Miami on Wednesday night. “I’m fine,” he said. For those who saw the Pelicans’ power forward roll his left ankle in the second quarter of the game, Williamson was delivering excellent news. Williamson —

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — The Winnipeg Jets signed first-round pick Brad Lambert to a three-year entry-level contract Wednesday. The 18-year-old Finnish forward’s deal carries an average annual value of $1.2 million at the NHL level. He was drafted 30th overall in July. Winnipeg assigned Lambert to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League after

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Kyrie Irving scored 23 points, Kevin Durant had 19 points and eight assists and the Brooklyn Nets won their first game of the preseason, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 107-97. Nick Claxton had 16 points and nine rebounds for Brooklyn, which snapped a two-game skid. Ben Simmons finished with seven points, 10 assists

MONTREAL (AP) — Josh Anderson scored with 19 seconds left to give the Montreal Canadiens a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night in the opener for both teams. Cole Caufield scored twice and Sean Monahan had his first goal for the Canadiens after coming over in an offseason deal with Calgary.

By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Writer ATLANTA (AP) — Kyle Wright threw six brilliant innings to outduel Zack Wheeler, and the Atlanta Braves evened their NL Division Series at one game apiece with a 3-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. After rain delayed the first pitch by nearly three hours, Wright surrendered just two hits.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Sixth-seeded Coco Gauff turned back an inspired effort from 294th-ranked Robin Montgomery, 6-3, 6-3 in the resumption of a match that was postponed due to rain the night before in the San Diego Open WTA 500. Gauff says she did her best to block out the rain delay that stretched the

By BOB SUTTON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Martin Necas had a goal and two assists and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 in the season opener for both teams. Seth Jarvis, Brady Skjei and Andrei Svechnikov also scored for the Hurricanes, who’ve won four consecutive opening games. Patrick Laine had

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — David Pastrnak had a goal and three assists to help the Boston Bruins beat the Washington Capitals 5-2 in each team’s season opener. Pastrnak assisted on captain Patrice Bergeron’s goal on the power play with the initial shot that turned into a juicy rebound and set

By GAVIN GOOD Associated Press Bret Bielema suddenly has No. 24 Illinois looking like a Big Ten West contender in his second year since replacing Lovie Smith as the Illini’s coach. They’re ranked for the first time since 2011. They beat Iowa and Wisconsin in the same season for the first time since 1989, and

By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Sports Writer MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota coach Lindsay Whalen recently asked her players to raise their hand if they played last season with a teammate next to them. Nobody did. That’s because the Gophers only have three players back from 2021-22. The good news in Whalen’s fifth year running the program

By ALANIS THAMES AP Sports Writer MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returned to practice Wednesday in a limited capacity. He will not play Sunday against the Vikings. Tagovailoa has been in the concussion protocol since Sept. 29 when he took a hit against the Cincinnati Bengals and had to be

By TOM CANAVAN AP Sports Writer EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Quarterback Daniel Jones isn’t thinking about asking the New York Giants for a new contract despite having a good start to the season in what is a make-or-break year for him. The Giants didn’t pick up the fifth-year option on Jones’ rookie contract earlier

By JOHN WAWROW AP Sports Writer ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott appeared at ease in addressing questions about the team’s most recent visit to Kansas City to play the Chiefs. It was an outcome dubbed as ’13 Seconds,’ representing how much time was left in regulation when Buffalo squandered a

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — Keenan Allen returned to the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice field on Wednesday, raising optimism that the wide receiver might be able to return for Monday night’s game against the Denver Broncos. Allen has missed the past four games because of a hamstring injury he

By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Sports Writer MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Iowa has had a first team All-American in three consecutive seasons, two for Luka Garza and one for Keegan Murray, raising the natural question about who the next star will be for the Hawkeyes and how quickly he can emerge. Kris Murray, predictably, has everyone who

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer Defensive players around the NFL are frustrated about roughing-the-passer penalties, questioning what constitutes a legal hit and wondering how far referees will go to protect quarterbacks. Two disputed calls in Week 5 — one involving Tom Brady — sparked outrage among players, coaches and fans, prompting many to

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer MADRID (AP) — Club Brugge has held Atlético Madrid to a 0-0 draw on the road to become only the second Belgian club to reach the round of 16 of the Champions League. The setback leaves Atlético in a difficult position to advance from Group B. Club Brugge moved

FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — Second-seeded Matteo Berrettini crashed out of the Firenze Open in the second round. Berrettini seemed on the verge of victory when the Italian went up 5-2 in the third set but Roberto Carballes Baena reeled off five games in a row to win 5-7, 7-6 (5), 7-5 and silence the passionate

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Tony Stewart says he isn’t talking about NASCAR while his team is still appealing $200,000 in fines and allegations that Stewart-Haas manipulated the finish of the last playoff race. Stewart-Haas did drop its appeal of earlier penalties against Kevin Harvick and his crew chief

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — Barcelona was saved from Champions League elimination by Robert Lewandowski’s late goals. It was an instant classic at Camp Nou as Barcelona drew 3-3 with Inter Milan which is still favored to advance to the round of 16. Atlético Madrid is also on the brink of