preview Page 178 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Senators go for another win over rival Maple Leafs
The Ottawa Senators aim to extend their five-game winning streak and continue their dominance in the Battle of Ontario when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.,The Senators, who are 6-0-1 in their past seven games as they make a run for the playoffs, are coming off a 6-3 home victo...

A's preseason capsule: New home, new optimism in Sacrameto
Athletics,2024 record 69-93 (fourth place, AL West),He gone: RHP Ross Stripling, LHP Scott Alexander, RHP Dany Jimenez, 1B Ryan Noda, SS Nick Allen, LHP Kyle Muller,New faces: RHP Luis Severino, INF Gio Urshela, LHP Jeffrey Springs, LHP Jacob Lopez, INF Luis Urias,Biggest question entering Opening D...

First-place Thunder vow to keep improving, turn to face Pistons
The Oklahoma City Thunder qualified for the playoffs with their latest victory. Their aim now is to play at a peak level when the postseason begins next month.,The Thunder (54-12) will visit the Detroit Pistons on Saturday after defeating Boston on the defending champion's home floor, 118-112, on We...

Bruins fancy playoff run entering clash vs. Lightning
The Boston Bruins look to start a new winning streak when they conclude a five-game stretch against current playoff-caliber opponents with a Saturday night matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning.,A 6-3 loss Thursday at the Ottawa Senators ended the Bruins' hopes of their first win streak longer tha...

LAFC hope to tighten defense with goal-hungry Austin up next
Los Angeles FC look to have a better defensive showing when they return to MLS play with a home contest against Austin FC on Saturday afternoon.,LAFC (2-1-0, 6 points) were exposed often in a 5-2 road loss against the Seattle Sounders last weekend after pitching shutouts in their first two MLS match...

Caps hope setback an outlier as West Coast trip ends in San Jose
The Eastern Conference-leading Washington Capitals have not often searched for a rebound performance this season.,However, the Capitals will be on the hunt for a much-improved effort when they visit the San Jose Sharks on Saturday in the last outing in a three-game California road trip.,The Capitals...

Undermanned Lakers have tall task vs. Nuggets
The Los Angeles Lakers surged to the second seed in the Western Conference with an eight-game winning streak, but that was when LeBron James was healthy.,The NBA's all-time leading scorer has missed the last two games with a groin strain, and that has coincided with a three-game skid for Los Angeles...

Hot sides clash as No. 7 Michigan St. opposes No. 23 Oregon
Projected as the Big Ten's fifth-best team in the preseason, Michigan State made a mockery of the official media poll by winning the regular-season title by three games.,The seventh-ranked Spartans played so well down the stretch -- beating five Top 25 opponents during their active seven-game winnin...

With Cooper Flagg ailing, UNC seeks upset of No. 1 Duke
CHARLOTTE -- North Carolina will play in a game that might largely define its season Friday night in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament semifinals.,Yet the Tar Heels (22-12) aren't likely to be the main storyline when going against top-ranked Duke.,The Blue Devils (23-9) might be without ACC P...

Predators seek 5th straight win as they face Ducks
The Nashville Predators hunt for their fifth straight win when they visit the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night.,The Predators kicked off a three-game road trip with a 3-2 win at the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night.,Anaheim, which has lost four of five as it works to remain in the Western Conference wi...

Spurs, Hornets on the hunt for more consistent defense
Two teams on the outside of the playoff picture, the San Antonio Spurs and visiting Charlotte Hornets, will clash on Friday as the NBA season heads into its final month.,The Spurs are in 12th in the West, 4 1/2 games behind Dallas for the final spot in the conference play-in tournament with 18 games...

Jazz desperate to end 7-game skid when Raptors come to town
It's uncertain whether Utah Jazz players will wear white headbands when they host the Toronto Raptors on Friday night in Salt Lake City, like most of them did in a coordinated decision Wednesday in Memphis.,Fashion statement aside, the Jazz will try to replicate the style of play they had while rall...

Avalanche aim to keep working on defense on trip to Calgary
An extra-time loss in which they tied the game with a late tally will not ruffle the feathers of the Colorado Avalanche as they return to action on the road to face the Calgary Flames on Friday.,The Avalanche arrive in the Stampede City after suffering a 2-1 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild on Tu...

Top two Central teams square off as Stars visit Jets
Two of the NHL's premier squads will do battle when the Dallas Stars visit the Winnipeg Jets on Friday.,With four days rest to their name, the Stars enter the contest with five wins over their past six games, while the Jets have three wins out of their past four outings after dropping three straight...

Rockets put win streak up against defense-challenged Mavericks
With veteran point guard Fred VanVleet playing for just the second time since an ankle injury sidelined him for 16 of the previous 17 games, the Houston Rockets exercised some caution Wednesday relative to the workload they heaped upon him.,One silver lining of VanVleet's absence has been fourth-yea...

Cavaliers go for franchise-record 16th straight win in matchup vs. Grizzlies
How does anyone stop the Cleveland Cavaliers?,Minus three key players -- Donovan Mitchell, De'Andre Hunter and Ty Jerome -- in Tuesday's game against Brooklyn, the Cavaliers fell behind by 18 points. But they recovered, as they have most of this remarkable season, behind the defensive efforts of Jar...

Clippers, Hawks meet a month after trade-deadline deal
The Los Angeles Clippers will continue their quest for Western Conference playoff position on Friday when they visit the Atlanta Hawks, who are in a similar situation in the Eastern Conference.,The Clippers have won four of their last five after Wednesday's 119-104 road victory over the Miami Heat. ...

Hurricanes ride five-game win streak into rematch with Red Wings
There's less stress for the Carolina Hurricanes in some regard, and that might be a good thing going into the final month of the season.,The Detroit Red Wings might be more relaxed, as well, after finally breaking a slump and showcasing some rare offensive spark.,The teams meet for the second time t...

Heat face challenge in ending 5-game slide vs. Celtics
The Miami Heat, who are 8-23 versus teams with .500 records or better, are going through a rough stretch at the moment.,Miami is on a season-high five-game losing streak, and they will get a visit on Friday night from one of the NBA's elite teams, the Boston Celtics.,Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said "...

Pacers look to build on dramatic win, take on skidding 76ers
Fresh off one of their most exciting wins in recent memory, the Indiana Pacers will try to ride the momentum into Friday's road matchup against the scuffling Philadelphia 76ers.,Indiana had lost three games in a row entering Tuesday -- and it appeared that skid was destined to reach four games, as t...