AP Sports Summary for October 27th.
Arizona Diamondbacks take series of slights into surprise World Series against Texas Rangers
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Overlooked by oddsmakers and angered by analysts, the Arizona Diamondbacks find themselves in a Surprise Series against the also unexpected Texas Rangers. But the mindsets couldn't be more different ahead of Friday night's opener in Major League Baseball's third all-wild card title matchup. The Diamondbacks listen to all the slights and keep track of them. The Rangers say they ignore all the outside chatter. Zac Gallen starts the opener for the Diamondbacks and Nathan Eovaldi will be on the mound for the Rangers.
Josh Allen gets Bills off to fast start in 24-18 win over Buccaneers
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes and ran for another, and the Buffalo Bills hung on to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-18 on Thursday night. After a week of questions about his "low-energy" approach and Buffalo's slow-starting offense, Allen came through for the Bills. He had been listed on the Bills' report with a right shoulder injury and was checked in the blue medical tent in the second quarter, but remained in the game. Gabriel Davis had a career-best nine catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. Baker Mayfield tried to rally the Buccaneers late, but the game ended on a Hail Mary attempt. Tampa Bay has lost three straight.
Lillard scores 39 points in his Bucks debut to help Milwaukee edge the Philadelphia 76ers 118-117
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Damian Lillard scored 39 points in his first game with his new team and the Milwaukee Bucks regrouped after blowing a 19-point lead to open their season by beating the Philadelphia 76ers 118-117 on Thursday. The former Portland Trail Blazers star set a record for the most points by a player in his Bucks debut. Terry Cummings scored 34 points in his first game for the Bucks in 1984. Giannis Antetokounmpo added 23 points and 13 rebounds while shooting 10 of 22 from the floor to become the franchise's career leader in baskets.
NBA looking into facts behind Harden's absence from 76ers' nationally televised opener in Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers went to Milwaukee without James Harden and the NBA wants to know why. The league, which strengthened its rules about resting healthy players this summer, is investigating the reasons behind Harden's absence from the 76ers' nationally televised season opener against the Bucks. Harden wants to be traded and was away from the Sixers recently until returning this week. Coach Nick Nurse said Wednesday that the point guard wouldn't travel with the team so he could work on rebuilding his conditioning with team staff members at the 76ers' training facility. The player participation policy requires teams to demonstrate an approved reason for a star player to miss national TV games.
Derrick Henry, Chase Young, Brian Burns are among several star NFL players who could be on the move
The best team in the NFC already added an All-Pro to the secondary. More moves are coming around the NFL. Teams looking to bolster their rosters for the second half have until Tuesday's trade deadline at 4 p.m. EDT. Several established veterans could end up switching uniforms. There were a slew of trades at this time last season. The Philadelphia Eagles couldn't wait to upgrade at safety, acquiring two-time All-Pro Kevin Byard from the Tennessee Titans earlier this week. Byard is a significant addition at a position that was depleted by injury and the departure of C.J. Gardner-Johnson in free agency.
Alex Morgan misses penalty and U.S. settles for 0-0 draw with Colombia in exhibition
SANDY, Utah (AP) — Alex Morgan missed a penalty at the end of the first half and the United States settled for a scoreless draw against Colombia in an exhibition game on Thursday night. Morgan's attempt in the 44th minute bounced back off the post and Morgan tried to score off the rebound but the ball sailed over the goal. The game, played in chilly temperatures in the mid-30s, was the first of two matches against Colombia. The second is set for Sunday in San Diego.
Dusty Baker hopes to find a new calling after retiring as Astros manager
HOUSTON (AP) — As Dusty Baker officially ended one notable chapter in his illustrious career, he said Thursday he feels an obligation to do more around the game with his next one. Baker, 74, is retiring after his fourth season managing the Houston Astros, who came one win shy of reaching the World Series for a third straight year with a loss to the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series. The toothpick-chewer and epic storyteller finished his career ranked ninth all-time with 2,183 victories in 4,046 regular-season games. He was the 12th manager in major league history to reach 2,000 wins and the first Black man to do it.
No. 6 UConn, with a bigger target on its back, resets for a run at back-to-back national titles
STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Defending champion UConn comes into this season having lost the three biggest stars from last year's NCAA title team to the NBA. Adama Sanogo, Jordan Hawkins and Andre Jackson are gone. The Huskies return a solid core built around 7-foot-2 sophomore Donovan Clingan and returning starters Alex Karaban and Tristen Newton. UConn also boasts one of the top incoming classes in the nation, led by guard Stephon Castle. The Huskies are No. 6 in the AP Top 25 preseason poll, but are picked to finish third in the Big East behind Marquette and Creighton.
Shiffrin turns page on busy offseason, begins pursuit of a 6th overall World Cup title
Mikaela Shiffrin's busy offseason has included concerts, building dedications and picking up awards. Now it's time to get back to work for the all-time winningest World Cup ski racer. Shiffrin starts the season this weekend in Soelden, Austria, with a new coach and a new relaxed attitude. The five-time World Cup overall winner has come to realize it's OK to build throughout a season and that she doesn't need to be at her elite best at the start of the season. She still wouldn't mind starting on the right note in the giant slalom.
Former President George W. Bush to throw out ceremonial first pitch before World Series opener
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Former President George W. Bush, the former Rangers owner, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Texas plays the Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series opener on Friday night. This will be Bush's fourth World Series ceremonial first pitch but his first before an opener. Bush, 77. headed the group that bought the Rangers from Eddie Chiles in 1998 and was general partner through November 1994, when he stepped down as he prepared to become Texas governor.
AP-Scorecard
Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Milwaukee 118 Philadelphia 117
Final L.A. Lakers 100 Phoenix 95
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Tampa Bay 6 San Jose 0
Final Winnipeg 4 Detroit 1
Final Pittsburgh 4 Colorado 0
Final OT Montreal 4 Columbus 3
Final OT Carolina 3 Seattle 2
Final OT Anaheim 4 Boston 3
Final Philadelphia 6 Minnesota 2
Final N-Y Islanders 3 Ottawa 2
Final Toronto 4 Dallas 1
Final St. Louis 3 Calgary 0
Final N-Y Rangers 3 Edmonton 0
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NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Final Buffalo 24 Tampa Bay 18
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TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE
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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYOFFS
Arizona at Texas 8:03 p.m.
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Denver at Memphis 7 p.m.
Detroit at Charlotte 7 p.m.
Miami at Boston 7:30 p.m.
New York at Atlanta 7:30 p.m.
Oklahoma City at Cleveland 7:30 p.m.
Houston at San Antonio 8 p.m.
Toronto at Chicago 8 p.m.
Brooklyn at Dallas 8:30 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Utah 9:30 p.m.
Golden State at Sacramento 10 p.m.
Orlando at Portland 10 p.m.
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Chicago at Vegas 6 p.m.
Buffalo at New Jersey 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Washington 7 p.m.
San Jose at Carolina 7 p.m.
Los Angeles at Arizona 10 p.m.
St. Louis at Vancouver 10 p.m.