preview Page 18 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
Struggling Stars travel to Islanders, aware of need for improvement
The Dallas Stars begin a four-game road trip Thursday in Elmont, N.Y., against the New York Islanders, hoping new surroundings improve their results.,The Stars (43-17-11, 97 points) were swept on their two-game homestand but still secured a Western Conference playoff spot. They fell behind 4-1 after...
No. 2 Purdue next up for surprising Texas in run to West Region semifinals
The lowest-seeded team left in the NCAA Tournament will try to continue its unexpected run when No. 11 Texas faces No. 2 Purdue in the West Region semifinals on Thursday night in San Jose, Calif.,The Longhorns (21-14) are the sixth team to go from the First Four to the Sweet 16, getting there by kno...
Magic hope to shake slump and beat up on woeful Kings again
With key games against the Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks looming, the Orlando Magic hope to gain some momentum at the expense of the visiting Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.,The Magic (38-34) find themselves in the thick of a six-team battle for the final two guaranteed playoff positions in ...
Big Ten's Nebraska, Iowa play again, with South Region final on line
HOUSTON -- For Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg, there was ample familiarity in reviewing how the fourth-seeded Cornhuskers' next opponent, Iowa, dispatched both Clemson and Florida en route to the South Region semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.,For the ninth-seeded Hawkeyes (23-12), imposing their will ...
Sizzling Hornets, Knicks still have work to do for playoff seeding
Ahead of their meeting on Thursday night, the Charlotte Hornets and visiting New York Knicks are playing as well as any teams in the Eastern Conference. Still, both sides have ground to make up in the congested playoff picture.,Charlotte (38-34) has continued its remarkable run as the league's bigge...
Star turn: 10 MLB players poised for '26 breakout
If you like to watch rookies and other young players on the verge of breaking out in Major League Baseball, it's a good time to be a fan. ,With Opening Day upon us, let's take a quick look at 10 players (rookies and others) who are on the verge of making a big name for themselves in MLB.,RHP Shane B...
Orioles, Twins hope new managers lead to contending seasons
There'll be a double dose of managerial debuts when the Minnesota Twins visit the Baltimore Orioles for Thursday's opener.,Derek Shelton will be in his first game in charge of the Twins. New Orioles skipper Craig Albernaz is in his first managerial role.,Shelton was fired by Pittsburgh last May and ...
Wolves, winning without Anthony Edwards, take on Rockets next
Bones Hyland is stepping up at the perfect time for the Minnesota Timberwolves.,Hyland will aim to maintain his hot shooting when Minnesota tips off against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night in Minneapolis. The teams are separated by a half-game in the Western Conference standings as the playof...
Blazers' Toumani Camara gushes over career night; Bucks gashed by NBPA for tanking
Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara put on the greatest shooting exhibition in his career Monday night and described it as an out-of-body experience.,"I was feeling like Damian Lillard," Camara said of the injured Portland star known for his long-range shooting.,Only it really was Camara establishi...
Contending Raptors, Clippers out to boost playoff positioning
The Toronto Raptors close out a pivotal, five-game road trip on Wednesday against a Los Angeles Clippers team jockeying for positioning in the Western Conference postseason race. ,Toronto (40-31) can finish on the right side of .500 to conclude its swing, coming into Los Angeles off a 143-127 win on...
Down another regular, Warriors try to extend Nets' skid
The injuries keep piling up for the Golden State Warriors, who will be without yet another regular when they face the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday in San Francisco.,Moses Moody scored a team-high 23 points before sustaining a season-ending torn left patella tendon in Golden State's 137-131 overtime wi...
Auburn eyes trip to Indy as Nevada challenges in NIT third round
Auburn is the last power-conference program standing in the NIT as it prepares to host Nevada in a quarterfinal game Wednesday night.,The No. 1 seed Tigers (19-16) fought off a hard charge by Seattle University Sunday night in a 91-85 victory.,The win kept coach Steven Pearl's squad home for one fin...
Victor Wembanyama, surging Spurs face depleted Grizzlies
The San Antonio Spurs are building momentum as the season winds down, a push that is putting pressure on Western Conference leader Oklahoma City.,San Antonio defeated the Miami Heat 136-111 on Monday for its sixth consecutive victory and 10th in 11 games. The Spurs (54-18) might be able to sneak a s...
Lesser-known players getting chance to impress Jazz, Wizards
For players trying to stick in the NBA, injuries have opened opportunities to make a splash with the Utah Jazz.,Utah has been getting meaningful minutes from players on 10-day contracts heading into Wednesday night's game against the Washington Wizards in Salt Lake City. The Jazz have been able to p...
Stars align as healthier Thunder, Celtics match up
The Oklahoma City Thunder will be seeking their 13th consecutive victory when they visit the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.,Oklahoma City, the defending NBA champion, had a franchise-record 16-game winning streak earlier this season and currently has the best record in the league (57-15).,"We do...
Paul George back for Sixers' stretch run; Bulls up next
Following a lengthy suspension, Paul George returns to the court Wednesday when the Philadelphia 76ers host the Chicago Bulls.,Philadelphia (39-33) is looking to avoid the play-in tournament, but it has been a challenge playing without many of its key weapons in recent weeks. In addition to injuries...
Pacers get fresh start vs. Lakers with record skid over
The slate has been wiped clean ahead of Wednesday's meeting in Indianapolis, where the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers collide after both saw their recent streaks come to an end.,Indiana coach Rick Carlisle implored his players to "make a stand" after crashing to a 16th consecutive loss -- a f...
Daniss Jenkins, Pistons put streak on line vs. soaring Hawks
The absence of Cade Cunningham hasn't affected the Detroit Pistons' bottom line.,Detroit's All-Star guard has missed three games after being diagnosed with a collapsed lung. The Pistons have continued to win without their team leader. They will carry a four-game winning streak into their home matchu...
Nuggets, amid tight battle for top-4 seed, bring hot form to Phoenix
Once neck-and-neck for a playoff seed, the Denver Nuggets and host Phoenix Suns will be on different sides of the play-in divide when they meet Tuesday.,The Nuggets (44-28) have won five of seven after topping the Portland Trail Blazers 128-112 on Sunday, a few hours before the Suns (40-32) broke a ...
Ducks closing in on division title, but can't overlook Canucks
The Anaheim Ducks will try to inch closer to their first Stanley Cup playoff berth in eight years when they visit the Vancouver Canucks to open a three-game Canadian swing on Tuesday night.,The Ducks (39-27-4, 82 points) have earned points in their past four games (3-0-1), allowing them to open a fo...