preview Page 125 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

No. 9 Oregon faces stout test vs. No. 22 Illinois
No. 9 Oregon prepares for a big early season test in the Big Ten Conference on Thursday night when 22nd-ranked Illinois makes the trip to Eugene.,And to hear guard Jackson Shelstad tell it, the Ducks (12-1, 1-1 Big Ten) have a considerable distance to go to reach their ceiling.,"We feel like we have...

No. 21 Memphis opens league play at FAU
In the aftermath of a 13-point home loss just before Christmas, Memphis coach Penny Hardaway made a decision to return to "old-school practices" every day.,That meant sprints on Christmas night. Some "choice words all week for a lot of guys," Hardaway said. Seven days later, Memphis blew out then-No...

Elite field opens season at The Sentry, with a notable absence
Will Scottie Scheffler continue his extended run of excellence into 2025?,The answer to that question will have to be put on hold.,The 2025 PGA Tour season begins Thursday at the Plantation Course at Kapalua, Hawaii, as 60 players tee off at The Sentry. The field is reserved for the top 50 players f...

Hawks hope to continue hot streak, get revenge vs. Nuggets
The Atlanta Hawks have had a streaky start to the first third of the season and are currently trending upward heading into a New Year's Day road matchup with the Denver Nuggets.,Atlanta has won four in a row, the last one Sunday at Toronto to kick off a season-long six-game road trip, and Wednesday ...

76ers carry run of good form into New Year's clash with Kings
Two teams that liked what they saw at the end of 2024 hope a new year is nothing more than the changing of a calendar when the Philadelphia 76ers visit the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.,The game matches two coaches with strong links to the Toronto Raptors -- the 76ers' Nick Nurse, who worked ...

Rockets in search of stronger finishes with Mavs on horizon
The final minute of a physical and tense affair against the Miami Heat on Sunday devolved into something beyond basketball for the Houston Rockets, but that melee didn't mask their primary issues.,For the second time during a five-game homestand, the Rockets collapsed down the stretch offensively. H...

Knicks seeking ninth straight win, face struggling Jazz
Under stoic head coach Tom Thibodeau and similarly mannered de facto team captain Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks are never going to make bold declarations about their resolutions for 2025.,But the aggressive upgrading of the Knicks' roster and its performance throughout 2024 make it abundantly c...

Heat battling distractions ahead of game vs. lowly Pelicans
The Miami Heat expect to have All-Star Jimmy Butler back in the lineup when they host the woeful New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.,How long they will have him is uncertain.,Butler has missed the last five games while recovering from a flu-like illness. During that time it has been reported th...

Bulls try to carry momentum into new year, visit last-place Wizards
The Chicago Bulls are vying to open the new year with a third straight victory as they travel to D.C. for a showdown with the struggling Washington Wizards on Wednesday.,The Bulls are coming off a 115-108 overtime win over the Hornets in Charlotte on Monday. Coby White led the way with 23 points, 10...

Ravaged by injuries, Magic keep pushing on visit to Pistons
The Orlando Magic head into the new year waiting for their two best players to return. In the meantime, they'll try to hold onto their tenuous lead in the Southeast Division.,The Magic emerged from 2024 with 20 wins this season despite major oblique injuries to Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. They'...

North Carolina, Louisville seek quality win early in ACC slate
Neither Louisville nor visiting North Carolina will ring in 2025 as a ranked team, but that does not mean the Atlantic Coast Conference rivals will not have much at stake when they face off on Wednesday.,This will be one of the few chances either team has to post a notable win in conference play. Of...

Villanova, Butler look to bounce back in first game of 2025
The Christmas break has come and gone, and Villanova and Butler hope to right the ship on New Year's Day when they face off in a Big East Conference matchup Wednesday in Indianapolis.,Villanova (8-5, 1-1) comes in off an 86-79 conference loss at Creighton on Dec. 21, allowing the Bluejays to shoot 5...

Canucks try to flush tough loss, seek win against Flames
The Vancouver Canucks will try to move on from their most challenging loss of the season when they travel to Calgary to face the Pacific Division-rival Flames on Tuesday night.,Vancouver holds a one-point lead over fifth-place Calgary in the Pacific and the race for the final Western Conference wild...

Sharks seek to end 7-game losing streak vs. Flyers
The San Jose Sharks will hope to end their seven-game losing streak when they host the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.,The matchup presents the bottom-feeding Sharks with one of their best opportunities to secure a win as it marks the third of a six-game homestand, with a trio of tough teams to foll...

Hurricanes intent on not changing their game, face Jackets
The Carolina Hurricanes are in search of back-to-back victories as they open a two-game road trip with a meeting with the host Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night.,Carolina split a home-and-home with the New Jersey Devils last week and has two wins over its past five games (2-3-0). The Hurricanes...

Devils head west to face Ducks, seek return to defensive dominance
The New Jersey Devils recently set an NHL record by allowing 20 shots or fewer in seven straight games. They went 5-1-1 in those games.,Over the weekend, the shot totals increased as the Devils split a two-game set with the Carolina Hurricanes.,The Devils enter their second Pacific swing of the seas...

Sabres finding ways to win, while Stars seek to repeat recent history
The Buffalo Sabres appear to be finding their way again.,They've won three in a row after going 0-10-3 over a 13-game slide, outscoring opponents 17-5 in the process, and will look to keep the momentum going when they close out 2024 with a visit to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.,Their most recent triu...

Penguins energized by power play, Red Wings by new head coach
The best way to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins is to stay out of the penalty box. The Penguins' power play has churned out goals at a high rate in recent games.,They'll look to collect a road victory in Detroit on Tuesday during the Red Wings' annual New Year's Eve game.,Pittsburgh has notched six p...

Kevin Durant carrying Suns as Grizzlies pay a visit
Phoenix superstar Kevin Durant is calling for a "next-man-up" mentality as the short-handed Suns prepare to host the equally depleted Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday night.,After a bright start to the season, Phoenix has lost five of its past six games, including Saturday's 109-105 defeat against the Gold...

Thunder put 11-game winning streak on line vs. Timberwolves
The Oklahoma City Thunder are one of the hottest teams in the NBA for plenty of reasons.,Two-time All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 32.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.5 blocks during the Thunder's 11-game winning streak.,Gilgeous-Alexander's performances, as good as...