AP Sports SummaryBrief at 11:55 p.m. EDT

By The Associated Press

Fernando Valenzuela, Mexican-born pitcher whose feats for Dodgers fueled ‘Fernandomania,’ dies at 63

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fernando Valenzuela, the Los Angeles Dodgers pitching ace who inspired “Fernandomania” in the early 1980s, has died. He was 63. The Mexican-born phenom won the National League Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in 1981, when he helped the Dodgers win the World Series. His death comes as the Dodgers are preparing to open the World Series on Friday night at home against the New York Yankees. Valenzuela had left his job on the Dodgers’ Spanish-language television broadcast in September without explanation. He was reported to have been hospitalized earlier this month. He was one of the most dominant players of his era and a wildly popular sports figure in the 1980s.

LeBron and Bronny James make history as the NBA’s first father-son duo to play together

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James and Bronny James became the first father and son to play in the NBA together when they checked into the game together in the second quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ season opener. LeBron James is the 39-year-old top scorer in NBA history, while his 20-year-old namesake son was a second-round pick by the Lakers last summer. They are the first father and son to play in the world’s top basketball league at the same time, let alone on the same team. Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. were in attendance at the Lakers’ downtown arena to witness the same history they made in baseball.

Celtics tie, but don’t break, NBA record with 29 3-pointers. Then they miss 13 3s in a row

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics tied the NBA record by making 29 3-pointers in their victory over the New York Knicks. With the chance to break the record, the Celtics missed 13 straight 3s. The defending champions won 132-109 and tied the record set by Milwaukee in 2020. Jayson Tatum made 8 of 11 from long distance, Derrick White connected on six and Jaylen Brown made five as the Celtics opened a 35-point lead over New York on the night Boston raised its 18th championship banner to the rafters.

Jack Flaherty will start for Dodgers in World Series opener against Gerrit Cole and Yankees

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jack Flaherty will start for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series opener against the New York Yankees. The right-hander opposes Gerrit Cole on Friday night at Dodger Stadium in a matchup of Los Angeles area natives. Flaherty is from Burbank and attended high school at Harvard-Westlake in Los Angeles. Cole is from the Orange County city of Tustin and pitched at UCLA. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Game 2 on Saturday. The Dodgers also plan a bullpen game during the best-of-seven series. Flaherty dominated Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the New York Mets and then struggled in Game 5.

Bucs’ Chris Godwin to have surgery, likely out for season. Fellow WR Mike Evans to miss 3 games

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin will undergo surgery on a dislocated left ankle. The procedure will likely sideline him for the rest of the regular season. Coach Todd Bowles said Tuesday that the Bucs are holding out hope that Godwin might be able to return if Tampa Bay winds up playing deep into January. Tampa Bay also lost receiver Mike Evans to a hamstring injury in Monday night’s loss to Baltimore. Evans is expected to miss the next three games before possibly returning after Tampa Bay’s bye week. Quarterback Baker Mayfield says the two receivers are the “heartbeat” of the team.

49ers WR Deebo Samuel gets released from the hospital, AP source says

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers star receiver Deebo Samuel has been released from the hospital after being treated for a bout of pneumonia. A person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that Samuel was sent home after going to the hospital Sunday night following San Francisco’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Samuel reported being sick before the game against Kansas City but tried to play. He lasted four snaps before coming out for good. Doctors determined he had fluid in his lungs and he went to the hospital to be treated for symptoms of pneumonia.

Analysis: In a game where he threw 5 touchdown passes, Lamar Jackson’s lead block spoke volumes

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson saw Derrick Henry cut back and instinctively sprinted past him to help open up a running lane. The two-time NFL MVP didn’t hesitate to become a lead blocker. Jackson took on All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. before Henry was eventually pushed out of bounds following a 39-yard gain. In a game where Jackson threw five touchdown passes for the fifth time in his career and produced several more highlight plays, this one said the most about him.

Vinicius Junior scores hat trick as Real Madrid beats Dortmund 5-2 in Champions League

Vinicius Junior scored a hat trick as Real Madrid turned boos into cheers with a 5-2 win over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, while Paris Saint-Germain dropped more points. Christian Pulisic scored direct from a corner and there was VAR heartbreak for 16-year-old Francesco Camarda as AC Milan beat Brugge 3-1 to end its wait for a Champions League win. Arsenal steadied the ship after its 2-0 loss to Bournemouth last week in the English Premier League, beating Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0. Aston Villa is the only team to have won its first three games after beating Bologna 2-0.

Celtics celebrate 18th NBA title with banner, rings and call from Tatum: ‘Let’s do it again.’

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics have raised Banner 18 to the rafters. The NBA’s most-decorated franchise celebrated its latest championship on Tuesday night in a ceremony before opening night against the New York Knicks. The players and staff also received their championship rings. Former Celtics such as Bob Cousy and Paul Pierce were also on hand. The Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks in five games last spring to claim their 18th NBA title. That’s the most of any franchise in the league.

76ers rule Embiid and George out for opener with injuries. Bucks’ Middleton also expected to be out

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers All-Stars Joel Embiid and Paul George will miss the season opener against Milwaukee and could miss more games as they return from injuries. George has a bone bruise but did not suffer any structural damage when he hyperextended his left knee last week. The Sixers did not say Tuesday how many more games George could miss, and his return to play will be assessed later in the week. Embiid did not play in the preseason because of a sore left knee. He also will miss Friday’s game against Toronto and will be reevaluated this weekend. Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers says Bucks forward Khris Middleton isn’t expected to play Wednesday. The three-time All-Star is recovering following offseason surgeries to each of his ankles.