Preview Page 162 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

No. 1s Michigan, Arizona anticipate real tournament test
INDIANAPOLIS -- On the weekend the Fab Five is reunited and Michigan celebrates the anniversary of its only men's basketball national title in 1989, Dusty May can't help but feel momentum moving the Wolverines closer to tipoff in the Final Four.,The former Indiana University manager for Bob Knight h...

NHL leaders conclude season series as Avalanche battle Stars
The Colorado Avalanche were treated to a dose of reality this week in advance of their fourth and final meeting with the Central Division rival Dallas Stars on Saturday.,Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar can only hope his team will heed the wake-up call as it goes on the road to face the Stars.,Colo...

Struggling Heat eager to get right vs. woeful Wizards
Hoping to finish strong, the Miami Heat will play host to the Washington Wizards on Saturday afternoon.,The Heat (40-37) have clinched a spot in the play-in round. They entered play on Friday in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, but they have five games left in the regular season and could move ...

West's best winning streaks collide as Spurs visit Nuggets
San Antonio's first dynasty ended when Tim Duncan retired with five NBA titles over 19 seasons. Ten years later, the Spurs are hoping to build another one behind Victor Wembanyama.,San Antonio (59-18) still is in the hunt for the top seed in the Western Conference and faces a tough challenge when it...

Illinois basks in Final Four moment, intent on clipping UConn
INDIANAPOLIS -- Forgive Brad Underwood if he takes an extra beat to appreciate the novelty of his weekend surroundings as Illinois returns to the Final Four for the first time since 2005.,Ready and waiting, perhaps unimpressed by the pomp and circumstance on the periphery of a third trip to the Fina...

Red Wings visit Rangers in quest for critical points
The Detroit Red Wings continue their quest for a playoff berth when they visit the New York Rangers for a Saturday matinee. ,It is the third and final game between these Eastern Conference foes. New York won the first meeting on the road 4-1 on Nov. 7, while Detroit pulled out a 2-1 road victory on ...

Former Big 12 foes Baylor, Oklahoma clash in Crown semifinals
Former Big 12 rivals Oklahoma and Baylor will square off in the College Basketball Crown semifinals on Saturday in Las Vegas.,Both were members of the Big 12 for 28 years before the Sooners bolted for the Southeastern Conference ahead of the 2024-25 season.,Oklahoma and Baylor came to the tournament...

Senators continue final push toward playoffs against Wild
The Ottawa Senators hold their playoff destiny in their hands as they head into their game Saturday afternoon against the visiting Minnesota Wild.,The Senators moved into the second wild-card spot from the Eastern Conference with a 4-1 win against the Sabres on Thursday night, which also prevented B...

Rapids visit Toronto FC for clash with former coach
There will be reunions on both sides of the pitch when the Colorado Rapids visit Toronto FC on Saturday afternoon.,Last week, Toronto traded defender Kosi Thompson to the Rapids for up to $400,000 in General Allocation Money. ,"The thing I love about Kosi is his versatility," Colorado coach Matt Wel...

Dominic Smith, Braves try for encore in rematch vs. D-backs
When Dominic Smith signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves in mid-February, it was hard envisioning him having much of a role with the team.,After all, Smith's best defensive position is first base and the Braves feature Matt Olson at that spot, and Olson hasn't missed a single game in fo...

Mets turn to Nolan McLean vs. Giants in bid to end skid
The task for right-hander Nolan McLean in his 10th major league start will be much like the task in his first nine outings: save the New York Mets from spiraling further out of control.,McLean again will look to serve as a stopper on Friday night when he takes the mound as the Mets visit the San Fra...

Two of West's worst face off as Pelicans visit Kings
The New Orleans Pelicans will visit the Sacramento Kings on Friday night with an opportunity to complete a three-game season sweep. ,New Orleans (25-52) arrives in California's capital city on a six-game losing streak, playing the second leg of a back-to-back set after a 118-106 loss in Portland on ...

Key cogs remain in question as Timberwolves visit 76ers
The Minnesota Timberwolves and 76ers could be without star players on Friday night when the teams meet in Philadelphia for an important late-season clash.,Philadelphia (42-34) sits in sixth place in the Eastern Conference playoff race, although there isn't much separation between fifth and 10th plac...

Hornets eager for rookies to continue strong play in matchup vs. Pacers
The Indiana Pacers and Charlotte Hornets have something in common -- they're both playing at perhaps their highest levels of the season.,It's just that the Hornets will have much more at stake when the teams meet Friday night in Charlotte, N.C.,The Hornets (41-36) have won seven of their last nine g...

Christian Yelich, Brewers ride potent offense into series opener vs. Royals
After a stellar homestand, the Milwaukee Brewers will take their high-octane offense on the road for the first time this season when they face the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.,Milwaukee won five of its first six games by averaging 7.5 runs per contest. The Brewers' 45 total runs are tied with...

Flyers, Islanders in 'must-win' mode amid playoff chase
The Philadelphia Flyers will look to inch closer to a playoff spot when they visit the New York Islanders on Friday in Elmont, N.Y.,The Flyers (37-26-12, 86 points) fell 4-2 to the visiting Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, keeping them two points back of the second wild card in the Eastern Conference ...

Rays, Twins out to shake off subpar starts to season
The start of the season has been far from perfect for the Minnesota Twins.,But manager Derek Shelton sees reason for optimism ahead of Friday's home opener against the Tampa Bay Rays.,"The one thing we're learning about this club," Shelton said, "is they fight.",After playing their first six games o...

Athletics' Shea Langeliers riding historic start into Astros series
Shea Langeliers is putting on a power display not seen by a catcher in 101 years.,The Athletics slugger will look to build on a start that includes five homers in six games when the club faces the Houston Astros on Friday night in the home opener at West Sacramento, Calif.,Hall of Famer Gabby Hartne...

Blues, running out of time to make playoff move, visit Ducks
In dire need of reversing their fortunes during their road swing, the St. Louis Blues will take their flickering playoff hopes to Anaheim to face the Ducks on Friday.,After a torrid stretch following the Olympic break, the Blues (31-31-12, 74 points) are winless in the first two outings of a four-ga...

Magic hope road run, starting vs. Mavericks, will create a spark
The Orlando Magic get a break from their frustrated home fans when they open a two-game trip against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night., ,The Magic left their home court to boos after getting pummeled 130-101 by the visiting Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, a loss that dropped Orlando (40-36) two game...