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Weekend sports: NBA Cup, World Series and a Formula 1 title chase

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The NBA Cup tips off Friday, the World Series could stretch into the weekend, and Formula 1 heads to Mexico City with a championship at stake. Closer to home, Penn State and Gettysburg College will try to end football losing streaks amid a busy college schedule. Here is a sport-by-sport look at Oct. 29–Nov. 1. All times are Eastern.

National sports

Basketball

The NBA Cup opens Friday with the Knicks visiting the 76ers at 7:30 p.m. on Prime Video, followed by the Lakers at Golden State at 10 p.m. on the same service. Other opening-night games include Charlotte at Washington at 7 p.m. and Chicago at Boston at 7:30 p.m., both listed on NBA League Pass. Friday is the weekend’s Cup night; the next group-play date is Nov. 6.

Baseball

World Series Games 6 and 7 are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, if necessary, at 8 p.m. on Fox.

Football

In the NFL, Carolina visits Green Bay Thursday at 8:15 p.m. on Prime Video. Sunday brings Cleveland at Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. on CBS and Philadelphia at Washington at 8:20 p.m. on NBC. Check local listings for the afternoon broadcast available in your area.

Ice hockey

The Washington Capitals visit Nashville at 8 p.m. Thursday, then return to Capital One Arena to host the Minnesota Wild at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. The afternoon home game gives area hockey fans an option before Sunday night’s Eagles–Commanders football matchup.

Auto racing

Formula 1’s Mexico City Grand Prix begins at 3 p.m. Eastern on Sunday at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Qualifying is at 5 p.m. Eastern Saturday. The different offsets reflect the end of U.S. daylight saving time early Sunday; Mexico City remains on the same clock.

Kimi Antonelli arrives after winning in Austin, with a chance to clinch the drivers’ championship. Formula 1’s official preview identifies George Russell and Lewis Hamilton as the only drivers still able to catch him, with both needing a victory in Mexico to keep their title hopes alive.

NASCAR

Kyle Larson could settle the Cup Series championship before the season finale when the Xfinity 500 starts at 2 p.m. Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, with coverage on NBC and HBO Max. Larson’s Talladega victory expanded his lead to 73 points with two races remaining. NASCAR’s Chase report says earning 59 points Sunday would clinch his third championship, making a victory his route to controlling the outcome.

Martinsville gives his pursuers some reason for hope: Denny Hamlin has six victories at the Virginia short track, while Chase Elliott won there this spring. This is the ninth of 10 Chase races, leaving little time for Larson’s rivals to recover if he extends his advantage.

Soccer

The Washington Spirit hosts Chicago Stars FC at 5 p.m. Sunday at Audi Field on NWSL Decision Day. Washington has already secured a playoff berth but is still trying to clinch a home quarterfinal. The Spirit comes off a 2-1 loss at Kansas City, so its regular-season finale carries consequences beyond a final tuneup. The league’s quarterfinals begin Nov. 6–8.

In England’s Premier League, Chelsea hosts Manchester United at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Saturday, followed by Tottenham against Crystal Palace at 1:30 p.m. Liverpool hosts Arsenal at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Sunday. That Anfield visit is one of Arsenal’s more demanding fixtures before November’s international break, highlighted in the league’s preview of this stretch of the season. Saturday’s and Sunday’s Eastern conversions differ because U.S. daylight saving time ends early Sunday.

Golf

The PGA Tour’s VidantaWorld Mexico Open runs Thursday through Sunday at Vidanta Vallarta. Brian Campbell returns as defending champion, with Wyndham Clark, Tom Kim and Ben Griffin among the field. This is the fifth of eight FedExCup Fall events, when players are competing for 2027 Tour cards and places in next season’s early Signature Events. Golf Channel coverage is 4–7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 3–6 p.m. Sunday.

The LPGA’s Maybank Championship also runs Thursday through Sunday, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Defending champion Miyu Yamashita joins past winners Ruoning Yin and Celine Boutier in the field. For U.S. viewers, the time difference makes this a late-night event: Golf Channel’s final-round coverage begins at 9:30 p.m. Eastern Saturday and continues overnight.

College sports

Football

Penn State hosts Purdue at 4:15 p.m. Saturday at Beaver Stadium, with Big Ten Network carrying the game. The Nittany Lions opened 3-0 before losing to Wisconsin, Northwestern, USC and Michigan. Their most recent game was a 21-18 loss at Michigan on Oct. 17; Saturday offers a chance to stop that slide after an open weekend.

In Gettysburg, the Bullets host Ursinus at 1 p.m. Saturday at Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium. Gettysburg has lost four straight since beating Western Connecticut State 34-28 on Sept. 19, most recently falling 40-14 at Johns Hopkins on Oct. 23. The college’s football schedule provides live video and statistics links for Saturday’s game.

Volleyball

Penn State volleyball gets the weekend started Thursday with a 7 p.m. home match against Ohio State on Big Ten Network. The Nittany Lions then host Purdue at 12:30 p.m. Saturday in Rec Hall, a White Out and Senior Night match listed on B1G+. Penn State comes off 3-1 wins over Oregon and Indiana last week, giving the two home matches a different backdrop from football’s recent struggles.

Gettysburg volleyball also hosts Ursinus at 1 p.m. Saturday in Bream Gym. The Bullets swept Muhlenberg and Stevenson in straight sets Oct. 24, ending a run of four losses. Before Saturday, they have a Wednesday evening home match with McDaniel, so that result will provide a more current measure of their form.

Ice hockey

Penn State men’s hockey travels to Minnesota for games at 8 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Saturday, both listed on B1G+. The Nittany Lions swept Canisius last weekend, winning 5-1 and then 3-2 in overtime, after losing their first four games. The road series is a chance to build on those first victories.

Penn State’s women’s hockey team is also on the road, visiting RIT at 6 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday.

Soccer

Penn State women’s soccer hosts Indiana at 7 p.m. Friday at Jeffrey Field. Gettysburg’s teams travel to Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, Saturday: the men play at 4 p.m. and the women at 7 p.m. Both Gettysburg soccer schedules provide live video and statistics links.

Swimming and diving

Penn State’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams host Pittsburgh at 4:30 p.m. Friday at McCoy Natatorium. Gettysburg’s men host Scranton at 1 p.m. Saturday at Bullets Pool.

Field hockey

Penn State hosts Northwestern at 3 p.m. Friday at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex. The official all-sports schedule lists coverage on B1G+.

Cross-country

Penn State competes at the Big Ten championships Friday in Madison, Wisconsin. The university’s schedule lists a 10:45 a.m. Eastern start.

Sources

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