playoffs Page 9 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Goaltender health questions hover as Caps, Canadiens enter Game 4
The Montreal Canadiens look to even their Stanley Cup first-round series when they host the Washington Capitals in Game 4 on Sunday night.,The Canadiens scored three straight third-period goals Friday night in front of a raucous home crowd to pull away for a 6-3 win in Game 3.,Both teams face goalte...

Celtics prepared to put up fight vs. physical Magic in Game 4
The Orlando Magic can even their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series when they meet the visiting Boston Celtics in Game 4 on Sunday night.,After losing two games in Boston, seventh-seeded Orlando rebounded by earning a 95-93 home victory Friday. The second-seeded Celtics, who played withou...

Cam Fowler, Blues ride momentum into Game 4 vs. Jets
Cam Fowler is happy to be back in the playoffs and he's a big reason the St. Louis Blues are on the board in their Western Conference first-round series against the Winnipeg Jets.,Fowler, who spent his entire 15-season career with the Anaheim Ducks until he was traded to the Blues on Dec. 14, had a ...
Luka Doncic’s Stomach Illness a Major Concern for Lakers Before Game 4
Luka Doncic’s stomach illness could impact the Los Angeles Lakers' chances as they face a crucial Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves....

Canadiens look to solve Logan Thompson, Capitals
The Montreal Canadiens will need production from their top players to climb back into their Eastern Conference first-round series against the Washington Capitals.,The Capitals hold a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series heading into Game 3 on Friday in Montreal.,Canadiens forward Patrik Laine did no...
A Geography Lesson Could Save the NBA Playoffs
The NBA playoffs need a serious refresh — and it starts with ditching the tired regional matchups and taking a page from the NCAA’s bracket playbook....

Report: Early NHL playoff ratings plummet 27%
NHL playoff broadcasts in the United States were down in viewership through the first three days of the postseason, per a report from Front Office Sports published Wednesday.,Stanley Cup playoff games through Monday averaged 718,000 viewers, the outlet reported. That's a 27 percent drop from the pre...

Knicks need more than Jalen Brunson (i.e. KAT) to battle Pistons
The New York Knicks will need more offensive support for Jalen Brunson if they hope to regain home-court advantage when they visit the Detroit Pistons on Thursday for Game 3 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.,The Pistons evened the series in Monday's 100-94 Game 2 win by targeting Bruns...

Opening weekend of NBA playoffs scores best ratings in 25 years
The 2025 NBA playoffs drew the best ratings for an opening weekend in 25 years, the league announced Tuesday.,The eight-game slate on Saturday and Sunday averaged 4.4 million viewers, a 17-percent increase from a year ago.,The six games on the ABC/ESPN platforms averaged 4.9 million viewers, making ...

Pacers prepare for Bucks’ response in Game 2
Moments after Indiana finished a dominant win over the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was already looking ahead.,The Pacers never trailed after taking the lead early in the first quarter, but Carlisle cautioned his team about beco...
Game 2 Likely to Decide Los Angeles Lakers' Fate After Game 1 Rout
After a blowout Game 1 loss to Minnesota, the Lakers face a must-win situation in Game 2 to keep their playoff hopes alive....

Kings, Oilers clash in familiar first round matchup
For the fourth consecutive year, the Los Angeles Kings will face the Edmonton Oilers in a Western Conference first-round series of the Stanley Cup playoffs.,The Kings, who host the opener of the best-of-seven series Monday, are hoping for a new result. The Oilers won the previous three series, in wh...

Celtics erase small halftime deficit to trounce Magic in Game 1
Derrick White made seven 3-point attempts and scored a team-high 30 points Sunday to lead the Boston Celtics to a 103-86 victory over the visiting Orlando Magic in Game 1 of their NBA Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.,Jayson Tatum added 17 points and 14 rebounds for second-seeded Boston...

Stars look to bounce back against Avalanche in Game 2
After another opening game disappointment, the Dallas Stars will try to rebound when they host the Colorado Avalanche on Monday in Game 2 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series.,Dallas has lost the first game of each of its last eight postseason series, following the team's 5-1 loss to Colo...

Golden Knights hope regular-season dominance carries over vs. Wild
Fifty serves as a symbolic number for the Vegas Golden Knights heading into Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series Sunday night versus the visiting Minnesota Wild.,The Pacific Division champions (50-22-10, 110 points) hit the 50-win mark for the third time in the organization's eight-...

Report: Bucks' Damian Lillard targeting Game 2 or 3 return
Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard, who missed the final 14 games of the regular season due to a medical issue, could return for Game 2 or 3 of the team's first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, ESPN reported Saturday.,Lillard, 34, was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his righ...

Pacers open quest for first NBA title vs. familiar Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks won the season series and have the greater postseason experience, but the Indiana Pacers hold the home-court advantage when the rivals tip off an Eastern Conference first-round best-of-seven playoff series Saturday afternoon in Indianapolis.,The Pacers earned the No. 4 seed in th...
2025 NBA Playoff Matchups We Want to See Most
From Thunder-Cavs in the NBA Finals to a Clippers-Thunder grudge match, here are the NBA Playoff series that would light up the 2025 postseason....
Stanley Cup Playoffs: Three Must-Watch First-Round Matchups
These are three can’t-miss series that kick off the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, packed with rivalries, redemption arcs, and star-studded storylines....
Damian Lillard’s Remarkable Recovery Comes Just in Time for the Bucks
Damian Lillard has been cleared of blood clots and is ramping up workouts, just three weeks after being ruled out indefinitely....