preview Page 35 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Rockets-Lakers series 'much deeper' than LeBron James-Kevin Durant tilt
A pair of NBA legends will square off once more when the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets face off in a first-round series starting Saturday in Los Angeles.,Kevin Durant led the Rockets to the No. 5 seed in his first season with the team, while LeBron James has helped guide the Lakers to the N...

Kyle Larson looks to defend title at Kansas' AdventHealth 400
Through eight Cup Series races, five different drivers have been the first to the checkers and positioned their teams nicely at the top of the standings.,Reigning series champion Kyle Larson is hoping it's his turn to join that list Sunday at the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, K...

Storylines abound as Scottie Barnes, Raptors open series at Cavs
Success came quickly for Toronto Raptors power forward Scottie Barnes, who won the Rookie of the Year award and got a taste of the playoffs four years ago.,Two All-Star selections followed, but a return to the postseason proved elusive until now.,The fifth-seeded Raptors will challenge the fourth-se...

Rapids seek to spoil debut of Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos
The surging Colorado Rapids host an Inter Miami side in flux on Saturday in Commerce City, Colo.,The Rapids (4-3-0, 12 points) posted a 6-2 home rout of the Houston Dynamo last Saturday. Rafael Navarro and Kosi Thompson each scored a brace and Josh Atencio also scored for Colorado. The Rapids also a...

Rivalry continues as Nuggets host Timberwolves for Game 1
Denver slugged its way past Minnesota in 2023 on its way to the NBA title. The Timberwolves derailed a Nuggets repeat with a Game 7 upset in 2024.,Act III of this sometimes-bitter rivalry kicks off Saturday afternoon when No. 3 Denver hosts No. 6 Minnesota for Game 1 of the Western Conference quarte...

Stars take win streak into playoffs as Wild goalies await
The Dallas Stars are entering the Stanley Cup Playoffs on a different path this season.,When they host the Minnesota Wild in Game 1 of their first-round series on Saturday, the Stars will be riding a five-game winning streak.,A year ago, Dallas entered the playoffs on a season-long seven-game skid, ...

Hurricanes brace for stern challenge vs. surging Senators
The Carolina Hurricanes worked all season to secure the top seed in the Eastern Conference, and now they turn their attention to the next phase of the season on Saturday afternoon.,They'll welcome the Ottawa Senators for the opener of the first-round series in Raleigh, N.C.,"We've been eager for thi...

Ranger Suarez, Red Sox aim to halt Tigers' win streak
It is not about how you start, right?,The Boston Red Sox are hoping that is the case for the first month of the long and winding Major League Baseball season.,Following Wednesday's series-closing win at the Minnesota Twins, Boston kicks off a challenging seven-game homestand against the surging Detr...

Giants turn to ace Logan Webb to tame improving Nats
The Washington Nationals return home from a strong road trip and open a three-game series against the struggling San Francisco Giants on Friday night.,Washington went 5-2 against the Milwaukee Brewers and the Pittsburgh Pirates and enters the weekend tied for second in the National League East.,The ...

Facing uneven Brewers, Marlins out to continue home success
Off to an unusual start, the Milwaukee Brewers are set to visit the Miami Marlins for a three-game series that starts on Friday.,Milwaukee is coming off a brutal stretch. The Brewers started 8-2 then lost six straight -- their longest skid since June 2023 -- until winning a pair of 2-1 contests over...

Hornets seek 1st playoff berth in 10 years in play-in game at Magic
For the Charlotte Hornets, winning Friday night's play-in game and earning the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference would cement the 2025-26 season as one of the most successful campaigns in recent franchise history.,Even with a win Friday, the Orlando Magic will have a lot more work to do ...

Whitecaps out to continue hot start against lowly Sporting KC
The Vancouver Whitecaps will try to build on one of the best seven-game starts in MLS history on Friday night when they host a Sporting Kansas City side coming off one of its most concerning performances.,Vancouver (6-1-0, 18 points) earned a 2-0 victory over visiting New York City FC last Saturday ...

Suns hope to avoid unfortunate history in play-in finale vs. Warriors
After letting a chance at advancing out of the NBA play-in tournament slip away Tuesday, the Phoenix Suns will look to bounce back in an elimination game Friday.,The Suns will host the Golden State Warriors in the play-in finale, with the winner advancing to take on the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thun...

Surging Braves set to open series against 'grinding' Phillies
The Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies are trending in opposite directions heading into their first matchup of the season Friday.,The visiting Braves have won three series in a row, taking two of three from the Los Angeles Angels, Cleveland Guardians and Miami Marlins over the last two weeks. ...

Offenses for Mets, Cubs trending in opposite directions entering series
The New York Mets are mired in their worst offensive slump in almost a decade -- just in time to meet the Chicago Cubs, who are in the midst of a much-needed lineup revival.,The Mets will look to snap a lengthy skid Friday afternoon when they visit the Cubs in the opener of a three-game series betwe...

Kraken close out disappointing season while Avs prep for playoffs
Nothing is on the line for either team when the Seattle Kraken wrap up a disappointing season on Thursday night at the Colorado Avalanche in Denver.,Seattle (34-36-11, 79 points) has been eliminated from the playoffs for the fourth time in its five-year existence after cratering late in the season. ...

Finding ways to win, Padres face another challenge in Mariners' pitching
San Diego Padres' first-year manager Craig Stammen can explain his team's five-run, ninth-inning rally Wednesday night that produced a 7-6 win over the visiting Seattle Mariners on Wednesday.,"Just a never-say-die mentality," he said. "We just battled and came away with the crazy victory.",That stre...

Guardians try to turn out of skid at Orioles' expense
The World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers are the only team that has yet to lose consecutive games this season. The Cleveland Guardians were on the list until dropping two in a row to the St. Louis Cardinals.,Cleveland will attempt to reverse course on Thursday when it hosts the Baltimore Oriole...

Struggling White Sox going with youth against Rays
With 12 losses in their first 18 games, including three by shutout, the Chicago White Sox's season prospects could be starting to flutter.,Chicago still maintains high hopes, though, for the fruits of its farm system. Attempting to avoid a three-game sweep by the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday,...

Jays' Patrick Corbin, Brewers' Brandon Sproat on hunt for first win
The visiting Toronto Blue Jays and the Milwaukee Brewers each will start a pitcher seeking his first victory with a new team on Thursday in the rubber match of the three-game series.,Left-hander Patrick Corbin (0-0, 9.00 ERA) gets the nod for the Blue Jays, while Milwaukee counters with right-hander...