KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs’ Nick Bolton had surgery in Los Angeles on his fractured wrist this week, though coach Andy Reid said Wednesday he was not sure whether the linebacker would land on injured reserve or how long he might be out. Reid said there was no need during Tuesday's procedure for metal to be put into the wrist to support it, and that could help Bolton return to the field quicker. He already has missed three games this season because of an ankle injury. Bolton was hurt making a tackle in last Sunday's win over the Chargers. The Chiefs visit the Broncos on Sunday.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos star safety Justin Simmons gave a spirited defense of fellow safety Kareem Jackson after the veteran's four-game suspension for an illegal hit on a Green Bay tight end was reduced to two games. Simmons said while he agrees with the NFL's crackdown on head hits, this one in particular looked bad but was actually a clean, shoulder-to-shoulder hit. Simmons also took issue with the league's letter announcing the original four-game suspension which accused Jackson of deliberately choosing not to make a clean tackle on the hit in question.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — No. 6 Oklahoma learned not to overlook anybody when it needed to stop a 2-point conversion inside of 2 minutes last week to preserve a 31-29 victory over UCF. The Sooners do not face another ranked team this season, but they nevertheless have a tough road with four straight coming up against teams with winning records, and two of them on the road. It starts with a trip to Kansas on Saturday. The Jayhawks had a week off after letting a fourth-quarter lead slip away against Oklahoma State. They are still expected to be without quarterback Jalon Daniels, who has been sidelined by a bad back much of the season.
UNDATED (AP) — No. 8 Oregon at No. 13 Utah is the game of the week in college football. Utah has won two straight since its loss to Oregon State and the Ducks followed their loss to Washington with a win over Washington State. No. 20 Duke is at No. 18 Louisville in the only other Top 25 matchup. UNLV visits Fresno State for an under-the-radar game. The Rebels 6-1 for the first time since 1984. Syracuse’s Dino Babers is on the hot seat. He started 4-0 but his team was outscored 112-24 in losses to Clemson, North Carolina and Florida State.
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State coach Jerome Tang wants his team to take the next step toward greatness this season after leading the Wildcats to the Elite Eight in his first season as head coach. In fact, Tang visited with Colorado football coach Deion Sanders not long ago to get some tips on roster and staff management. The Wildcats lost Keyontae Johnson and Markquis Nowell to the NBA but have brought in two touted transfers in Tylor Perry from North Texas and Arthur Kaluma from Creighton They also return several key players.
HOUSTON (AP) — Dusty Baker has retired as manager of the Houston Astros, ending an illustrious 26-year career as a big league skipper highlighted by a World Series win last season. Baker broke the news in an interview with USA Today. Baker told the newspaper that he’d like to move into an advisory role in baseball, either with the Astros or a team closer to his Northern California home. He stepped down after his fourth season with the Astros, who came one win shy of reaching the World Series for a third straight year with a loss to the Rangers on Monday night.
PHOENIX (AP) — Some say the Arizona Diamondbacks are ahead of schedule, advancing all the way to the World Series with a young roster that was supposed to need a few more years of seasoning before hitting the sport’s biggest stage. Manager Torey Lovullo and general manager Mike Hazen have a different perspective. The two friends and colleagues have navigated a difficult five years — both personally and professionally — that have made the D-backs’ improbable run to the Fall Classic even sweeter. Game 1 against the Texas Rangers in on Friday night in Arlington, Texas.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers have played only four home games over the past month, and lost all three in the AL Championship Series. Yet they're getting ready to host Game 1 of the World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. Texas has already matched a postseason record by winning its first eight road games. But All-Star catcher Jonah Heim says the Rangers love playing at Globe Life Field. Texas and Arizona both had to win Games 6 and 7 of their respective League Championship Series on the road to get to the World Series. That was the first time that happened in both LCS matchups since those series expanded to a best-of-seven format in 1985.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Nathan Eovaldi will start Game 1 of the World Series for the Rangers against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Texas manager Bruce Bochy made the announcement Wednesday. It will be the first career World Series start for Eovaldi, a Texas native who signed with the Rangers last offseason. The veteran right-hander made three relief appearances for the Boston Red Sox in the 2018 World Series. Eovaldi is 4-0 with a 2.42 ERA in his four starts this postseason. He won the AL Wild Card Series and AL Division Series clinchers for Texas, and the must-win Game 6 in the ALCS against Houston on Sunday night. The Diamondbacks had Wednesday off, a day after clinching the NL pennant. They will start 17-game winner Zac Gallen in Game 1.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The Victor Wembanyama era is underway in San Antonio. Wembanyama made his NBA debut with the Spurs against the Dallas Mavericks and made an immediate splash with the world watching. The No. 1 pick in the NBA draft blocked a shot in the opening minute of the game and misfired on a 3-point attempt from the top of the key. But Wembanyama found his spot and scored his first NBA points with a 3-pointer — again from near the top of the key — at the 8:25 mark of the first quarter. He added another 3 later in the quarter. Slowed by foul trouble, he broke loose for nine points in the fourth quarter and finished with 15 points in a 126-119 loss. The debut of the 19-year-old from France forced the Spurs to sell standing-room only tickets for their season opener.
WEDNESDAY SCORES
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Indiana 143 Washington 120
Final Orlando 116 Houston 86
Final Charlotte 116 Atlanta 110
Final Boston 108 New York 104
Final Toronto 97 Minnesota 94
Final Miami 103 Detroit 102
Final Cleveland 114 Brooklyn 113
Final Oklahoma City 124 Chicago 104
Final New Orleans 111 Memphis 104
Final Sacramento 130 Utah 114
Final Dallas 126 San Antonio 119
Final L.A. Clippers 123 Portland 111
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE