pr Page 38 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Zion Williamson peaking in lineup as Pelicans host Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers begin their 2026 schedule on Friday when they continue a three-game road trip against the slumping New Orleans Pelicans. ,New Orleans put together a season-best five-game winning streak from Dec. 11-22 - a run that began with the Pelicans' 143-120 rout of Portland - but th...

Cold-shooting Rutgers resumes Big Ten action vs. Ohio State
Rutgers will need to find some better shot-making when it resumes Big Ten play by battling Ohio State on Friday in Piscataway, N.J.,Despite shooting 29.8% from the field, Rutgers (7-6, 0-2 Big Ten) beat Delaware State 65-50 Monday. The Scarlet Knights collected a season-high 52 rebounds in the victo...

No. 16 Louisville's defense could cause trouble for stagnant Stanford
Louisville will wrap up its California road trip on Friday, looking to start 2-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play as the No. 16 Cardinals square off against the Stanford Cardinal.,The Cardinals (11-2, 1-0 ACC) are coming off one of their better victories of the season, a 90-70 win over Cal that sna...

Depleted Bulls look to build win streak vs. Magic
Aiming to secure a winning record in a three-game road trip that concludes with Friday's visit to the Chicago Bulls, the Orlando Magic will look to build upon a clutch performance that boosted them Wednesday.,Paolo Banchero swished the go-ahead layup with 7.5 seconds left to lift the Magic to a 112-...

Unbeaten outdoors, Rangers hit Miami for Winter Classic vs. Panthers
The New York Rangers' perfect record in outdoor games will be on the line Friday when they face the Florida Panthers in the 2026 Winter Classic at Miami's loanDepot Park.,The franchise is 5-0 outdoors, the most wins without a loss of any NHL team. Previously, the Rangers beat the Philadelphia Flyers...

Rare late-game stumble motivates Knicks against Hawks
The New York Knicks spent much of December offering evidence they are serious contenders to win their first NBA title in more than 50 years.,The last day of the month (and the year) served as a reminder the Knicks are still a work in progress.,The Knicks will look to bounce back from a rare fourth-q...

AFC North title on the line when Steelers host Ravens
Sunday marks the fourth time in seven seasons that the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens close the regular season against one another.,The stakes haven't been higher than they are for this Week 18 clash.,Pittsburgh (9-7) can clinch the AFC North title with a win or tie, while Baltimore (8-8) ...

Contending for the NFC's No. 2 seed, Eagles seek familiar sweep of Commanders
The NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles will attempt to sweep the visiting Washington Commanders for the sixth time in nine seasons on Sunday afternoon.,The Eagles (11-5) won both meetings with Washington (4-12) in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023 and registered a 29-18 victory two weeks ago in Lan...
NBA Betting Picks for New Year’s Day: Top Spreads to Play Today
Looking for NBA best bets on New Year’s Day? We break down spreads and picks for Rockets vs Nets, 76ers vs Mavericks, and Celtics vs Kings....

Inconsistent Panthers aim to clinch NFC South in rematch with Bucs
It's not exactly a winner-takes-all situation when the NFC South rival Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers clash for the second time in three weeks on Saturday in Tampa.,However, the Panthers can dictate their fate when it comes to qualifying for the postseason.,"We're aware of all those scen...

Struggling Kings started new year with visit from surging Celtics
Jaylen Brown's impressive streak of 30-point games is over, but teammate Derrick White is overshadowing him as the Boston Celtics enter Thursday night's road game against the Sacramento Kings.,White had a career-best seven blocked shots to go with 27 points, seven rebounds and six assists during Tue...

Cardiac Canadiens hope to get earlier jump on Hurricanes
The Montreal Canadiens are comfortable after falling behind in games because they have gained confidence with their ability to rally.,That is not the preferred route to victories, so the Canadiens would not mind altering the formula when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes for Thursday night's game a...
NHL Picks for New Year’s Eve: Best Dec. 31st Hockey Predictions
New Year’s Day NHL picks and predictions featuring Red Wings vs Jets and Sabres vs Stars. Breaking down recent form, goalie play, and betting value on today’s hockey slate....
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal Betting Picks, Predictions
Breaking down spreads, totals, and best bets for the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, including Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, and Georgia....

Rolling with Giannis back, Bucks welcome Wizards
With former Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo back in the lineup, the Milwaukee Bucks aim to replicate their recent road surge when they host the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.,Washington serves as the penultimate opponent Milwaukee faces at home before embarking on a four-game trek throu...

Blues seek consistency, face another red-hot team in NHL-best Avs
The Colorado Avalanche battle the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night in Denver with a chance to extend their already scorching start to the 2025-26 season.,Colorado has won eight in a row overall and 14 straight at home -- where it is 16-0-2 this season -- and has just two regulation losses through ...

'Relentless' Sabres go for 10th straight win vs. stellar Stars
The Buffalo Sabres have been sizzling in December and can wrap up the month by matching a franchise-record winning streak when they visit the Dallas Stars on Wednesday.,Winners of nine straight after a 4-2 victory against the St. Louis Blues on Monday, Buffalo will go for double digits against Dalla...

Recent defensive slippage motivates Thunder vs. Blazers
For much of the season, the Oklahoma City Thunder's defense has been elite.,During their 24-1 start, the Thunder allowed 103.3 points per 100 possessions -- by far the best mark in the league.,But in the eight games since, their defense has slipped.,Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander says that nee...

Raptors enjoying depth that injury-ravaged Nuggets crave
The Denver Nuggets begin at least one month without star center Nikola Jokic because of a hyperextended left knee when they visit the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night.,Jokic hobbled to the dressing room in the final seconds of the first half of Monday's 147-123 loss at the Miami Heat and did not r...

Red Wings tout self-belief as they welcome sinking Jets
The Detroit Red Wings will head into the new year with at least a share of first place in the Atlantic Division. They can maintain sole possession with a win over Winnipeg in Detroit's annual New Year's Eve home game on Wednesday.,That's a nice, and unusual, place to be for a franchise that hasn't q...