preview Page 175 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
Flames, Islanders desperate to keep playoff pushes going
Rare is the nonconference game that pits two teams who have as much at stake as the New York Islanders and Calgary Flames when the teams meet Saturday afternoon in Elmont, N.Y.,The Islanders and Flames were both off Friday after continuing their timely surges Thursday night. New York opened a four-g...
Wolves look to snap out of 2-game slump in Pelicans rematch
Something seems to be off with the Minnesota Timberwolves. That's the bad news.,The good news, veteran forward Julius Randle said, is that the Timberwolves still have time to snap back into shape as the regular season winds down.,"We've just got to get our energy back, man -- our swag," Randle said....
Trail Blazers look to continue uphill climb against Nuggets
The Portland Trail Blazers remain in an uphill climb when it comes to nabbing a Western Conference play-in spot.,But the gap has narrowed, and Portland looks to take another step forward when it hosts the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.,The Trail Blazers (31-39) are 3-1 on a seven-game homestand and...
Timberwolves look to snap out of 2-game slump in Pelicans rematch
Something seems to be off with the Minnesota Timberwolves. That's the bad news.,The good news, veteran forward Julius Randle said, is that the Timberwolves still have time to snap back into shape as the regular season winds down.,"We've just got to get our energy back, man -- our swag," Randle said....
Surging Pistons set to face injury-plagued Mavericks
These are heady times for the Detroit Pistons, who moved a season-high eight games above .500 with a last-second victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday.,The Pistons (39-31) have their sights set on larger goals as they prepare to visit the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.,While the injury-plagued Maver...
Rockets are hot, Heat are not as opposites attract
The contrast is stark.,When the Miami Heat plays host to the Houston Rockets on Friday night, it will be a battle between two teams who have been headed in different directions over recent weeks.,Houston (45-25) is on a season-best eight-game win streak.,Miami (29-40) is on a nine-game losing streak...
Magic keeping long-range faith with visit to Wizards ahead
The fading Orlando Magic will look for better shooting and a better result when they visit the Washington Wizards on Friday.,The Magic (32-38) currently sit eighth in the Eastern Conference, one of four play-in tournament spots. But they are not there because of their long-distance shooting.,Orlando...
Kings aim to avert season sweep at hands of Blackhawks
As the see-saw journey that is the Los Angeles Kings' stretch run continues, the good news is this: The Kings maintain a firm hold on a playoff spot.,Entering Thursday's visit to the Chicago Blackhawks, the Kings (36-21-9, 81 points) have a six-point lead for the No. 3 slot in the Pacific Division a...
Stars to put home win streak to test against Lightning
Streaks are set to clash as the Tampa Bay Lightning eye a third consecutive victory Thursday night against the Dallas Stars, who will look for a ninth straight home win. ,Tampa Bay (39-23-5, 83 points) is vying for home-ice advantage in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs with an oppo...
Amid three-game skid, Predators out for revenge on Ducks
The last 15 games of a lost NHL season can seem like a lifetime, but the Nashville Predators still hope they can generate some momentum heading into a long offseason.,The Predators will get their next chance to end their latest skid when they host the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night.,Nashville (25-3...
Canucks' critical road trip begins against defensive-minded Blues
The Vancouver Canucks' postseason hopes hang in the balance as they head out for a pivotal six-game road trip.,The Canucks (32-25-11, 75 points) will start that journey Thursday night in St. Louis to play the Blues (34-28-7, 75 points).,Vancouver has gone 6-7-0 since the break for the 4 Nations Face...
Cruising Capitals host offensively-challenged Flyers
The Eastern Conference-leading Washington Capitals will play host to the floundering Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday.,The Capitals (45-15-8, 98 points) have won seven of their past eight contests, with their latest win coming on Tuesday when they took down the Detroit Red Wings 4-1 on the road.,Loga...
Both playoff chases in focus when Devils, Flames meet
The New Jersey Devils have created space ahead of their closest pursuers with the Stanley Cup playoffs coming into sight, and look to solidify their position further when they play host to the Calgary Flames on Thursday.,The Devils (37-26-6, 80 points) have won four of five games and own an eight-po...
Suns plotting a rise at red-hot Bulls' expense
Phoenix superstar Devin Booker isn't wishing ill fortune on any of the teams that lie in the Suns' path for a Western Conference play-in berth.,But he's not exactly wishing them the best of luck, either, as Booker and his squad prepare for a home tilt against the in-form Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.,...
Nuggets bringing healthier bunch to Lakers showdown
While both the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers won their most recent games with impact players missing, only one is expected to have its stars back when the teams meet Wednesday in Los Angeles.,The Lakers still are expected to be without LeBron James (groin) and Rui Hachimura (knee), but the N...
Call it March sadness: NBA bottom two to meet in Utah
Before the cherished basketball traditions of March Madness and the NBA playoffs arrive with all their tantalizing fanfare, the hoops world must first endure an entirely different matchup.,Far on the other end of the anticipation spectrum, the Washington Wizards take on the Utah Jazz on Wednesday ni...
Knicks finding their way without star; Spurs striving to do the same
It will be a clash between the haves and the have-nots when the New York Knicks travel to San Antonio to face the Spurs on Wednesday in a late-season interconference game.,Both teams will be without star players for the foreseeable future. However, the Knicks are proving to be one of the league's de...
Rising Thunder and sliding Sixers to collide in Oklahoma City
The Oklahoma City Thunder have all but shifted their attention toward the postseason.,The Philadelphia 76ers, meanwhile, already are staring at next season and beyond.,On Wednesday, their gazes will meet just long enough to play a game Wednesday in Oklahoma City.,The Thunder hold a 12.5-game lead in...
Pelicans move on from latest injury blow, face Timberwolves
The New Orleans Pelicans will try to find a way to compete without one of their top players during the final month of the regular season.,They don't have any other choice.,The Pelicans (18-51) will play their first game since Trey Murphy III suffered a season-ending injury when they tip off against ...
Heat meet Pistons while enduring worst run of Erik Spoelstra era
In the middle of their longest losing streak of the Erik Spoelstra era, the Miami Heat return home to face the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.,Miami has lost eight straight games, its worst skid since the 2007-08 season. Spoelstra was hired to replace Pat Riley as the Heat's coach on April 28, 2...