preview Page 77 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Spokane Region 1: NC State seeks different outcome in LSU rematch
When Spokane Region 1 No. 2 seed North Carolina State and No. 3 seed LSU last met, the locale was much different -- but that is not the only deviation in their rematch on Friday in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.,LSU (30-5) won the championship game of the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo tournament in Nassau, ...

Rangers hungry for wins as Ducks up next
The New York Rangers will look to break out of their funk when they continue their California road trip on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks.,Despite only one win in five outings, the Rangers (34-32-6, 74 points) sit just outside the Eastern Conference's second wild-card position in what has become a...

Birmingham Region 2: Maryland next to try stopping South Carolina's title defense
As defending national champion, No. 1 seed South Carolina was guaranteed to get opponents' best shot through the Women's NCAA Tournament. Friday's Sweet 16 matchup in Birmingham Region 2 with No. 4 seed Maryland should be no exception.,The Gamecocks (32-3) rallied from a sluggish first half and one-...

Suns, Timberwolves turn focus to defense ahead of matchup
Defense will be top of mind for both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns when the teams tip off Friday night in Minneapolis.,Minnesota (41-32) will return to the court after a three-day break. The Timberwolves spent some of that time in practice sessions watching film of recent defensive bre...

Jets face Devils with NHL's top spot in clear view
The Winnipeg Jets have locked up a playoff spot and will proceed toward securing the top spot in the Central Division and the Western Conference when they host the New Jersey Devils on Friday.,The Jets (49-14-4, 102 points) clinched a postseason berth for a third straight season and the fourth time...

Hot Golden Knights look to soar past Blackhawks
A four-game winning streak is nothing new to the Pacific Division-leading Las Vegas Golden Knights, who tote their fifth surge of at least that many games into Friday's visit to the Chicago Blackhawks.,A varied attack, however, has been novel for Vegas since the 4 Nations Face-Off, as the club has a...

Hornets, working on 'competitiveness,' visit Raptors
The Charlotte Hornets are headed north of the border on Friday, visiting the Toronto Raptors amid a stretch that has seen the Hornets lose five of their past six games. ,That includes three discouraging losses in a row. Since March 21, Charlotte (18-54) has suffered a 35-point loss to the Oklahoma C...

Kings look to stay in playoff picture as they host Trail Blazers
The Sacramento Kings are mired in a four-game losing streak for the second time this month, untimely skids that are hindering Sacramento's chances of gaining a Western Conference play-in berth.,The Kings will look to break through Thursday night when they host the Portland Trail Blazers, a team faci...

Senators look to increase wild-card lead vs. Red Wings
The Ottawa Senators have cooled off, but they still hold the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. They'll look to solidify their position when they visit the struggling Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night.,The Senators lost for the third time in four games on Tuesday, falling to Buffalo, 3-...

Caleb Love, Arizona face Duke in high-powered offensive matchup
NEWARK, N.J. -- Caleb Love needs no introduction to the Duke Blue Devils. And Duke fans certainly need no refresher course on Love.,The prolific shooting guard has faced Duke nine times, far more than any other opponent in his five-year collegiate career. That includes a 28-point night and a dagger ...

Hawks, Heat battle for play-in position in late-season matchup
A pair of likely Eastern Conference play-in teams will square off on Thursday, when the Miami Heat host the Atlanta Hawks.,The seventh-place Hawks (35-37) hold a four-game lead over the 10th-place Heat (31-41), while No. 8 Orlando sits a half-game behind Atlanta and No. 9 Chicago sits a game ahead o...

Cavs return home to face slumping Spurs
The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to move closer to clinching the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and contend for the best record in the NBA when they host the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday in a late-season interconference game.,The Cavaliers (58-14) still have plenty for which to play. Clevela...

Paolo Banchero stepping up for Magic with Mavs next
Paolo Banchero looks to continue his scoring spree on Thursday when the Orlando Magic host the Dallas Mavericks in the opener of a three-game homestand.,Banchero scored 32 points to go along with seven rebounds and six assists in the Magic's 111-104 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday. The...

Penguins go for season sweep of improving Sabres
If the Pittsburgh Penguins hope to complete a season sweep of the Buffalo Sabres for the first time since 2017-18, they'll need to play much better than they did in the last game.,The Penguins are set to visit the Sabres on Thursday night in the finale of a three-game road trip.,Pittsburgh (29-33-11...

Dodgers ready to receive rings -- and to face Tigers' Tarik Skubal
On Major League Baseball's day of aces, two of the best will oppose each other Thursday in Los Angeles when the World Series champion Dodgers play host to the Detroit Tigers.,While it will be Opening Day for the Tigers, the Dodgers are beginning their domestic schedule after a pair of victories agai...

Luis Severino, Athletics open new eras at Mariners
With high-priced newcomer Luis Severino on the mound, the team formerly known as the Oakland Athletics opens its 2025 season Thursday night in Seattle.,The Athletics are preparing for a move to a new ballpark in Las Vegas and will spend the next few seasons playing in a Triple-A stadium in Sacrament...

Rays welcome Rockies for debut at George M. Steinbrenner Field
After having a five-season playoff streak end, then suffering through a hurricane that ravaged their domed stadium, the Tampa Bay Rays begin season No. 28 in new digs when they welcome the Colorado Rockies for Opening Day on Friday afternoon.,Manager Kevin Cash will not man the first-base dugout of ...

Celtics likely to face red-hot Suns without Jayson Tatum
Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is doubtful to play Wednesday night due to an ankle injury when Boston visits the Phoenix Suns.,The fact Tatum wasn't declared out -- leaving open the possibility he could play -- suggests the six-time All-Star dodged a serious injury.,Tatum sprained his left ankle durin...

Padres' Michael King, Braves' Chris Sale make for magnificent Opening Day matchup
At this time last year, the San Diego Padres were hoping Michael King would become a solid starting pitcher.,Now?,King is their Opening Day starter, receiving the opportunity for the first time as the Padres welcome the Atlanta Braves for Thursday's opener.,"Very proud and happy for the opportunity,...

Flailing Bruins try to play with more 'calm' vs. Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks host the Boston Bruins in a Wednesday night cross-conference matchup of two teams looking to keep their ultra-slim playoff hopes alive with three weeks remaining in the regular season.,Boston has lost six straight games (0-5-1), including the first three of a five-game road trip af...