preview Page 12 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
Suns eager to avenge historic blowout loss to Thunder
The Phoenix Suns have their first chance to avenge the worst loss in franchise history when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night.,The reigning NBA champion Thunder beat Phoenix 138-89 in the NBA Cup quarterfinals on Dec. 10 in Oklahoma City. They shot 59.1% from the field, including 2...
Now-football school Indiana tries to tackle Washington
With their top-ranked football program having reached the College Football Playoff semifinals, folks in Bloomington, Ind., might have forgotten about the Hoosiers' basketball team.,Especially since the hardwood Hoosiers have had a nearly two-week break between games.,That ends Sunday, when Indiana (...
Canadiens, Blues set to face off minus key roster pieces
The first half of the season gave the Montreal Canadiens' organizational depth a severe test. The Canadiens passed it, overcoming myriad injuries to earn 50 points in their first 40 games.,"You're not going to go through this season with 23 guys," Montreal coach Martin St. Louis said. "You're probab...
Contending for 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...
Celtics keen to slow Kawhi Leonard, snap Clippers' win streak
On one of the best stretches of an already accomplished career, Kawhi Leonard will lead the resurgent Los Angeles Clippers against the Boston Celtics on Saturday in Inglewood, Calif.,The Clippers have made Leonard the focal point of their offense, and the six-time All-Star has put the charge into th...
'It's on now': Minnesota locking in for Big Ten play, faces Northwestern
Minnesota coach Niko Medved does not have to worry about giving a big pep talk to his team heading into this weekend.,That's because the calendar has flipped to 2026, and every game from now on will come against a Big Ten Conference opponent.,"It's on now," Medved said. "We're playing the best leagu...
Rockets being 'aggressive' sharers ahead of tilt with Mavericks
As the Houston Rockets ride a four-game winning streak into Saturday's visit to Dallas, the Mavericks look to end a four-game slide.,Houston opened a stretch playing five of six on the road with a 120-96 rout of Brooklyn on Thursday. Amen Thompson's 23 points led six Rockets scoring 14-plus points, ...
Battle-tested OK State, No. 15 Texas Tech open grueling Big 12 slate
With plenty of tests behind them, Oklahoma State and 15th-ranked Texas Tech have learned about strengths and weaknesses, with each team making progress.,What matters now, though, is how that translates into success in the rugged Big 12 Conference.,The Cowboys (12-1) and Red Raiders (10-3) open leagu...
Capitals hope to rediscover form vs. bruised Blackhawks
Alex Ovechkin hopes to reawaken his scoring touch when the sliding Washington Capitals kick off a three-game homestand against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.,The Capitals were disappointed in their first effort of the calendar year as they saw their early multi-goal lead diminish in a 4-3 road ...
Slumping Jets try to break out vs. Senators
While the visiting Winnipeg Jets are reeling, the Ottawa Senators are trying to break through the logjam for an Eastern Conference playoff spot as the two teams meet Saturday night.,The Jets are winless in their last eight games (0-5-3). All but one of those losses - a two-goal defeat against Edmont...
Steven Stamkos, Predators take aim at rising Flames
Though Steven Stamkos was held off the scoresheet in the Nashville Predators' 4-1 road loss to the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, he has looked more like his old self recently.,Going into the Predators' game at the Calgary Flames on Saturday night, Stamkos has 10 goals and five assists in his last 11 g...
Hurricanes dealing with "obvious" deficiencies as Avalanche arrive
The Carolina Hurricanes will hit the regular season's midway point Saturday night with a good number of concerns going into a matchup with the Colorado Avalanche in Raleigh, N.C.,While the Hurricanes boast one of the Eastern Conference's best records at 24-13-3, there have been recent malfunctions. ...
Texas, Mississippi State need to show improvement in SEC play
Based on their NET rankings through nonconference play, both Texas and Mississippi State need to do significant work in the SEC if they intend to return to the NCAA Tournament.,The Longhorns (9-4) and Bulldogs (8-5) look to get their SEC campaigns started on the right foot when they square off on Sa...
Anthony Edwards under microscope when Timberwolves meet Heat
Anthony Edwards' behavior is the prevailing topic of conversation ahead of Saturday's game between his Minnesota Timberwolves and the host Miami Heat.,Edwards, the NBA's first overall pick in 2020 and an All-Star in each of the past three years, ranks eighth in the NBA in scoring this season (29.1)....
Colorado, Arizona State both in mini-funks entering Big 12 play
Colorado and Arizona State enter Saturday's Big 12 opener at Tempe, Ariz., with both teams coming off consecutive losses, including humbling defeats at home in their last outings.,Colorado (10-3) lost to Stanford 77-68 in Phoenix on Dec. 20 before falling to Northern Colorado 86-81 on Sunday in Boul...
Texas A&M, LSU brim with confidence as SEC play tips off
Texas A&M and LSU are both entering SEC play with confidence as they meet in the conference opener on Saturday afternoon in College Station, Texas.,The Aggies (10-3) reached the century mark in three straight wins, including a 111-82 victory over Prairie View A&M on Monday. Rashaun Agee impressed wi...
Oklahoma, Ole Miss kick off SEC play from different vantage points
Oklahoma has the momentum and Ole Miss has the motivation to launch a turnaround when the teams meet for their SEC opener Saturday in Norman, Okla.,The Sooners (10-3) come into conference play on a four-game winning streak, and while only one of those victories came against a power-conference oppone...
DePaul aims to climb out of hole while facing Xavier
Lengthy losing streaks to begin conference play have been the norm for DePaul in recent seasons.,The Blue Demons will try to keep from falling deeper into a Big East hole Saturday when they face Xavier in Chicago.,DePaul (8-6, 0-3 Big East) lost its first seven league games last season, its first un...
Could James Nnaji's debut come when Baylor visits TCU?
All eyes will be on James Nnaji when Baylor travels to TCU to open Big 12 play on Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas.,The Bears (10-2) created a stir when they signed Nnaji, the 31st overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, on Christmas Eve. Coach Scott Drew did not specify when Nnaji would be available but i...
Sizzling teams clash as Lightning continue trip at Sharks
The Tampa Bay Lightning have built another hot streak and brought it with them to the West Coast.,Sporting a six-game winning streak, the Lightning will travel to Northern California to face the San Jose Sharks on Saturday following a successful stint down south.,Coach Jon Cooper's team won both sid...