ew Page 327 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Rutgers strives for continued improvement vs. No. 16 Illinois
Now that Rutgers has proof of its improvement in the Big Ten win column, how much will the Scarlet Knights achieve?,They'll learn whether they can hang with a nationally ranked team when the Scarlet Knights (8-7, 1-3) face No. 16 Illinois (11-3, 2-1) on Thursday night in Champaign, Ill., ,In Rutgers...

No. 12 Michigan State aims to pick up steam vs. Northwestern
Monday was the bounce-back game for which No. 12 Michigan State was looking.,Now, the Spartans will hope to continue their momentum and further take advantage of a three-game homestand when they host Northwestern on Thursday in East Lansing, Mich.,Michigan State should enter feeling good about itsel...

Victor Wembanyama's status in flux as Spurs tangle with Lakers
Star Victor Wembanyama has been a supporting player and then a scratch in the San Antonio Spurs' first two games against the Los Angeles Lakers this season. ,Will he even be able to play in the third meeting as Spurs host the Lakers on Wednesday as both teams return to the court for games on back-to...

Kings eager to continue recent good fortune in clash vs. Sharks
Optimism is beginning to take hold for the Los Angeles Kings, who will aim for their third straight victory when they host the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night.,The Kings have won more than two in a row just once this season, a four-game run in mid-November, but back-to-back wins over the visiting...

Shorthanded Grizzlies still showing fight as they gear up for Suns
Memphis Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo was to the point.,After his team snapped a four-game losing streak Tuesday by defeating the San Antonio Spurs, he was quick to remind those gathered in the media room how the team's victory -- only its third in 20 games against opponents with a .500-or-better re...

Magic out to shore up defensive effort vs. improved Nets
Teams are finding it easy to score 120 points against the Orlando Magic in recent weeks, while other than a three-game lull last week, the Brooklyn Nets are showing defensive improvement.,Coming off a rough defensive showing, the Magic will attempt to avoid getting swept in a back-to-back set Wednes...

Sixers look to rebound vs. surging Wizards
The Philadelphia 76ers look to bounce back from arguably their worst performance of the season Wednesday when the Washington Wizards come to town.,The Sixers fell to the Nuggets 125-124 in overtime on Monday despite having virtually their entire team healthy and in uniform. Denver, meanwhile, was wi...

Struggling contenders face off as Stars visit Capitals
It's been more than a month since the Washington Capitals posted back-to-back victories.,Meanwhile, it only seems that long since the Dallas Stars won a single contest.,Looking to build on a decisive victory, the Capitals try to extend the visiting Stars' season-high losing streak to seven games whe...

Hawks have added incentive to extend Pelicans' skid
A win for the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday against the visiting New Orleans Pelicans could carry twice the value.,The Hawks own New Orleans' unprotected first-round draft pick and a victory would not only help Atlanta remain relevant in the playoff picture, it would also send the Pelicans crashing fur...

QB Demond Williams Jr. to transfer despite Washington contract
Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. announced he was entering the transfer portal on Tuesday night despite signing a contract to return to the Huskies.,"I have to do what is best for me and my future," Williams said on social media. "After much thought and prayer, I will be entering the trans...

Dramatic CFP run to end for Miami or Ole Miss at Fiesta Bowl
Miami and Ole Miss have provided two of the most compelling storylines of this year's College Football Playoff.,But only one will earn the chance to play for a national title after the teams square off on Thursday night in the Fiesta Bowl in a CFP semifinal in Glendale, Ariz.,After making the 12-tea...

No. 1 Indiana's Peach Bowl challenge: Beat No. 5 Oregon... again
ATLANTA -- No. 1 Indiana just won its biggest game in school history. In order to replace that victory with an even more important triumph, the Hoosiers will have to tackle a new challenge -- beating a team twice.,Hoping to add on to the best season the program has seen, the Hoosiers will have to ta...

Contending Blues, Blackhawks renew rivalry on upswing
The St. Louis Blues seek their first three-game winning streak of the season Wednesday when they visit a team riding such a tear, the Central Division rival Chicago Blackhawks.,After sweeping a two-game homestand from Vegas and Montreal on Friday and Saturday, the Blues aim to maintain that momentum...

Rockets, Blazers upbeat heading into first of 2-game set
Two hot teams get together for the first game of a back-to-back when the Houston Rockets visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.,Both Western Conference teams have won five of their past six games. The second contest is Friday, also in Portland.,Houston star Kevin Durant may arrive with an ex...

Angels sign RHP Kirby Yates to one-year, $5M deal
The Los Angeles Angels signed veteran right-handed reliever Kirby Yates to a one-year contract worth $5 million on Tuesday.,Yates, 38, does not have to leave Los Angeles for his next job after spending 2025 with the Dodgers. He made 50 appearances (41 1/3 innings) for the eventual World Series champ...

Jets D Haydn Fleury stretchered off after brutal crash into boards
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Haydn Fleury was wheeled off the ice on a stretcher in the first period of Tuesday night's game with the Vegas Golden Knights after taking a hard fall into the end boards.,Fleury had a collision with Vegas forward Keegan Kolesar before the goal line and slid back-first hard ...

Blackhawks' Connor Bedard returns to practice, considered day-to-day
Nearly four weeks after sustaining an upper-body injury, Chicago Blackhawks leading scorer Connor Bedard returned to practice on Tuesday with potential to play as soon as Friday against the Washington Capitals.,Bedard, who piled up 19 goals and 25 assists in 31 games before getting hurt on Dec. 12 a...

Warriors resume homestand vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
Golden State Warriors fans will get a look at the prize atop their trade-deadline wish list when Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks make their annual visit to San Francisco on Wednesday night.,Antetokounmpo put on quite a show in the California capital on Monday when he shoehorned 37 poin...

Utah aims to lock in on defense on trip to Colorado
Utah opened its Big 12 schedule against the top team in the nation and now travels to a tough venue when it visits Colorado on Wednesday night in Boulder, Colo.,Utah (8-6, 0-1) stayed with No. 1 Arizona early before taking a 97-78 home loss. It was a hard way to tip off the conference season, and he...

Villanova puts perfect Big East record on the line against Creighton
Villanova is one of two undefeated teams left in Big East play. The Wildcats are on pace to win more games, in the Big East and overall, than in any of Kyle Neptune's three seasons as coach.,With Kevin Willard in charge of a high-powered starting five, Villanova returns home Wednesday to meet Creigh...