l Page 344 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

No. 15 Vanderbilt vies to halt 3-game slide in visit to Mississippi State
The season has taken a turn for the worse for Vanderbilt.,The No. 15 Commodores (16-3, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) won their first 16 games before losing their last three, including a season-worst 93-68 setback at No. 20 Arkansas on Tuesday night. Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington called that loss "em...

No. 10 Michigan State strives to get in sync vs. Maryland
No. 10 Michigan State is carrying a five-game winning streak into Saturday afternoon's Big Ten game against Maryland in East Lansing, Mich.,But that doesn't mean Spartans coach Tom Izzo is totally pleased with his team. Not after watching his charges struggle to gain control against shorthanded Oreg...

No. 23 Louisville prepping for Virginia Tech, injuries, weather
Louisville prepares for a significant Atlantic Coast Conference matchup with Virginia Tech on Saturday while acknowledging two uncontrollable elements: injuries and weather.,As the state of Kentucky prepares for Winter Storm Fern and Louisville faces an uncertain situation with injured point guard M...
Three Trades the Warriors Could Make Before the Deadline
After a blowout loss to Toronto, the Warriors face reality and the trade deadline looms as Steph Curry waits for help....
Best College Basketball Betting Picks Saturday January 24th
A full day of college hoops is on tap. Here are the best college basketball bets, featuring Purdue, Houston, and Mississippi State....

No. 4 Purdue looks to rebound against fiery No. 11 Illinois
If you want to witness the most efficient offenses in college basketball, then West Lafayette, Ind., is the only place to be Saturday., ,No. 11 Illinois (16-3, 7-1 Big Ten), which per KenPom.com boasts the nation's most efficient tempo-free offense at 129.5 points per 100 possessions, puts its eight...

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...

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...

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...