i Page 453 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

No. 1 Arizona looks to continue dominance against scrappy West Virginia
Top-ranked Arizona will put one of the nation's three undefeated records on the line Saturday afternoon when it hosts West Virginia in Tucson, Ariz.,The Wildcats (19-0, 6-0 Big 12) have proven to be the conference's best squad through 12 contests, taking the opposition's best shot with all the zeroe...

Surging Blazers likely to have Deni Avdija active vs. Raptors
The Portland Trail Blazers expect their star attraction to suit up and play when they host the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.,All-Star candidate Deni Avdija left with back soreness during the third quarter of Thursday's 127-110 home win over the Miami Heat. However, interim coach Tiago Splitter ex...

Frustrated Giannis Antetokounmpo calls for Bucks to step up vs. Nuggets
The Bucks will go from hosting the top team in the West to playing another juggernaut as they welcome the Denver Nuggets to Milwaukee on Friday night., ,The reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder handled the Bucks on Wednesday night 122-102. The Thunder held a double-digit advantage from the middle...

Villanova ams to gain on No. 2 UConn in key clash
While Villanova's improvement from recent seasons is putting them within striking distance of the Big East lead, while surviving a few close calls allowed No. 2 UConn to maintain its lead and 14-game winning streak.,The Wildcats hope to draw even more notice about its strong season Saturday afternoo...

Blues desperate to put goals on scoreboard against the Stars
The St. Louis Blues are searching for more offense. So are the Dallas Stars.,They will carry the same goal -- more goals, simply -- into their matchup Friday night in Dallas.,The Blues suffered losses at Edmonton and Winnipeg by the combined score of 8-1 before heading to Texas. They are averaging j...

Big East giants Villanova and No. 2 UConn clash
While Villanova's improvement from recent seasons is putting them within striking distance of the Big East lead, while surviving a few close calls allowed No. 2 UConn to maintain its lead and 14-game winning streak.,The Wildcats hope to draw even more notice about its strong season Saturday afternoo...

Vegas' Mitch Marner prepares for 'emotional night' in Toronto
Longtime Toronto Maple Leafs stalwart Mitch Marner is bracing for an emotional Friday night when he visits his former team for the first time as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights.,Marner got an indication of how things could go for him on Jan. 15 when the Golden Knights came back to earn a 6-5 ho...

Stingy Lightning intent on limiting scoring chances for Blackhawks
Stinginess has been the key for the Tampa Bay Lightning during much of their 14-game point streak.,Tampa Bay has yielded two goals or fewer through regulation and overtime in seven straight games entering their visit to the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.,Now, the Lightning tote fresh legs, to boot, a...

Pistons could be without All-Star Cade Cunningham against Rockets
The Detroit Pistons won a road matchup without their best player on Wednesday. Now, they return home to face a much tougher opponent on Friday, the Houston Rockets.,All-Star starter Cade Cunningham sat out against New Orleans due to an illness and a left hip contusion, but the Eastern Conference lea...

Trail Blazers F Deni Avdija (back) expected to play Friday
Portland Trail Blazers standout forward Deni Avdija is expected to be available for Friday's game with the Toronto Raptors after leaving Thursday's 127-110 win over the visiting Miami Heat with back soreness.,"I think he'll be fine," Trail Blazers coach Tiago Splitter told reporters after the game, ...

Paddy Pimblett sizes up Justin Gaethje as UFC comes to Paramount
LAS VEGAS -- Dana White and the UFC begin a new era on Saturday night.,Rising star Paddy Pimblett and former interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje will headline UFC 324 in what marks the company's first numbered card since the highly publicized seven-year, $7.7 billion broadcast deal with Para...

Kawhi Leonard stars in return as Clippers down Lakers
Kawhi Leonard scored 24 points, Ivica Zubac added 18 points with 19 rebounds and the Los Angeles Clippers continued their red-hot run with a 112-104 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday at Inglewood, Calif.,James Harden scored 18 points with 10 assists, Jordan Miller had 14 point...

Shaedon Sharpe's big 2nd half sends Blazers past Heat
Shaedon Sharpe scored 24 of his 27 points in the second half to help the Portland Trail Blazers post a 127-110 victory over the visiting Miami Heat on Thursday night.,Caleb Love scored 20 points off the bench as the Trail Blazers won their fourth consecutive game and moved above .500.,Portland stand...

Wild's Kirill Kaprizov caps big night with OT goal vs. Wings
Kirill Kaprizov tallied two goals and an assist, including the winning goal 45 seconds into overtime, to lift the Minnesota Wild to a 4-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night in Saint Paul, Minn.,Mats Zuccarello also finished with two goals and an assist for Minnesota, which has won thre...

Trail Blazers F Deni Avdija (back) ruled out vs. Heat
Portland Trail Blazers standout forward Deni Avdija exited Thursday night's game against the visiting Miami Heat with back soreness early in the third quarter and didn't return.,Avdija had 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists in 18 minutes before his departure.,Avdija left the contest less tha...

Tommy Paul, Learner Tien continue to thrive at Australian Open
Maybe it's the summer-like conditions in January or the "Happy Slam" vibes, but something in Melbourne agrees with American tennis standouts Tommy Paul and Learner Tien.,Both men advanced to the round of 16 at the Australian Open with victories on Friday afternoon in Melbourne. No. 19 seeded Paul ne...

Penguins grab early 3-goal lead, cruise past Oilers
Anthony Mantha scored two goals 21 seconds apart early in the first period and the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins cruised to a 6-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night.,Evgeni Malkin had a goal and an assist, Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell and Egor Chinakhov also scored, Justin Brazeau and...

Aryna Sabalenka, Victoria Mboko escape trouble, advance in Melbourne
Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus subdued a stubborn Anastasia Potapova of Austria 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7) in the third round of the Australian Open on Friday.,Sabalenka has now reached the round of 16 for six consecutive years has taken 23 of her last 24 matches in Melbourne.,After exchanging early br...

Coby White, Bulls finish strong to extend Timberwolves' losing streak
Coby White scored a team-high 22 points and the Chicago Bulls finished with a 9-0 run to post a 120-115 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday in Minneapolis.,Josh Giddey added 21 points after missing the last 11 games with a left hamstring strain. Jalen Smith scored 17 points, and Mata...

Mavericks extend win streak to 4 in back-and-forth affair vs. Warriors
Naji Marshall posted 30 points and nine assists as the Dallas Mavericks extended their winning streak to four with a 123-115 victory over the visiting Golden State Warriors on Thursday.,Cooper Flagg paired 21 points with 11 rebounds, Max Christie added 21 -- including 5-of-12 shooting from deep -- a...