Sun, Jan 24, 2021
AP Sports
The highlights of Sunday's AP Sports report. An up-to-the minute listing of all stories planned, including games and events, is available in Coverage Plan on AP Newsroom, http://newsroom.ap.org/coverageplan. You can also find a link to Coverage Plan on the left navigation of the Newsroom home page, http://newsroom.ap.org
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All times EST
The supervisor is Rebecca Miller, followed by John Nicholson at 5 p.m. and Bob Lentz at 1 a.m. The New York sports desk can be reached at 800-845-8450, ext. 1630. Sports photos, ext. 1918; graphics, ext. 7636. Agate, 877-836-9477.
TOP STORIES
FBN--NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
GREEN BAY, Wis. - The top-seeded Green Bay Packers seek their first Super Bowl berth in a decade when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC championship game. The Bucs, who beat the Packers 38-10 on Oct. 18, are attempting to become the first team to play a Super Bowl on their home field. By Steve Megargee. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos. Game starts 3:05 p.m.
FBN--AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Bills will be making their first AFC championship game appearance since a 30-13 home win over Kansas City on Jan. 23, 1994. But unlike that game in Buffalo, the Bills will be the visitors for the first time in three postseason games against the Chiefs. Kansas City is only the second team in NFL history to host three consecutive conference title games. By Dave Skretta. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos. Game starts 6:40 p.m.
FBN--SUPER BOWL LOOKAHEAD
No matter which teams make it, this year's Super Bowl, played in a quarter-full stadium in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, will be a title game like no other. A look ahead at the matchup. By National Writer Eddie Pells. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos about an hour after end of AFC title game.
BBO--YANKEES-PIRATES-TRADE
NEW YORK - The Yankees make a second offseason addition to their starting rotation, acquiring right-hander Jameson Taillon from the Pittsburgh Pirates for four prospects. Taillon, 29, would join a rotation headed by his former Pirates teammate Gerrit Cole that also is projected to include Corey Kluber, who has a pending $11 million, one-year contract subject to a successful physical. By Baseball Writer Ronald Blum. SENT: 530 words, photo. UPCOMING: 750 words by 7 p.m.
BKN--VIRUS OUTBREAK-NBA-HEAT
MIAMI - The Heat are bringing back some fans, with help from some dogs. The Heat will use coronavirus-sniffing dogs at AmericanAirlines Arena to screen fans who want to attend their games. The idea already has been put into place at airports in the United Arab Emirates and Finland in recent months. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. SENT: 600 words.
COMMENTARY
FBN--TIM DAHLBERG-NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
Aaron Rodgers has been there before, though not nearly as many times as Tom Brady. Sports columnist Tim Dahlberg writes on the matchup in Green Bay, with the winner of the NFC championship game going to the Super Bowl. By Sports Columnist Tim Dahlberg. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 9 p.m., then updated after AFC title game.
NOTABLE
BKN--WIZARDS-SPURS
SAN ANTONIO - The Washington Wizards, still missing six players because of COVID-19 issues, play their first game in 13 days when they visit the San Antonio Spurs. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos. Game starts 8 p.m.
HKN--PREDATORS-STARS
DALLAS - The Stars play Nashville again two days after beating Nashville 7-0 in their delayed season opener. Dallas captain Jamie Benn could be out with a lower-body injury suffered in the first game. By Schuyler Dixon. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos. Game starts 8 p.m.
BKW--T25-USC-STANFORD
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - The No. 5 Stanford women's basketball team tries to bounce back from rare consecutive losses when the Cardinal face USC. By Janie McCauley. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Game starts 7 p.m.
GLF--THE AMERICAN EXPRESS
LA QUINTA, Calif. - Max Homa, Tony Finau and Si Woo Kim share the lead at 15-under 201 heading into the final round of The American Express in the Coachella Valley desert. Richy Werenski is one stroke back, leading nine contenders within three shots of the leaders in the wide-open field. By Greg Beacham. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 9 p.m. With Abu Dhabi Championship, Tyrrell Hatton outplays Rory McIlroy to claim Abu Dhabi Championship (sent) and LPGA Tour, Danielle Kang takes two-shot lead over Jessica Korda into final round of LPGA's season opener (upcoming by 7 p.m.).
SOC--ENGLISH ROUNDUP
MANCHESTER, England - A week after they drew in the Premier League, Manchester United and Liverpool meet again in the FA Cup with Juergen Klopp's side struggling in its Premier League title defense. Frank Lampard also sees a lift from a cup meeting with Luton during a turbulent period at Chelsea. Also Leicester is at Brentford, Everton hosts Sheffield Wednesday and Fulham takes on Burnley. By Rob Harris. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 6:30 p.m. Everton-Sheffield Wednesday starts 3 p.m.
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Sunday Time Schedule (EST)
NFL Playoffs
NFC Championship: Tampa Bay at Green Bay, 3:05 p.m.
AFC Championship: Buffalo at Kansas City, 6:40 p.m.
NBA
Toronto at Indiana, 1 p.m.
Oklahoma City at LA Clippers, 4 p.m.
Charlotte at Orlando, 7 p.m.
Cleveland at Boston, 7 p.m.
Atlanta at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.
Washington at San Antonio, 8 p.m.
New York at Portland, 10 p.m.
NHL
Detroit at Chicago, 12:30 p.m.
Buffalo at Washington, 3 p.m.
Toronto at Calgary, 4 p.m.
Vegas at Arizona, 4 p.m.
N.Y. Islanders at New Jersey, 7 p.m.
N.Y. Rangers at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Colorado at Anaheim, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles at St. Louis, 8 p.m.
Nashville at Dallas, 8 p.m.
San Jose at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Edmonton at Winnipeg, 9 p.m.
College Basketball (Top 25)
Women
No. 1 Louisville at Wake Forest, 2 p.m.
No. 2 N.C. State vs. Virginia Tech 4 p.m.
No. 4 South Carolina at LSU 1 p.m.
No. 5 Stanford vs. Southern Cal, 7 p.m.
No. 8 Texas A&M at Missouri, 5 p.m.
No. 12 Kentucky at No. 25 Tennessee, 2 p.m.
No. 13 Oregon vs. Washington, 5 p.m.
No. 16 Indiana at No. 21 Northwestern, noon
No. 20 Gonzaga at Portland, 7 p.m.
No. 23 Syracuse at Clemson, noon
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