preview Page 80 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
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...
Can Magic stop Rockets' win streak like they did the Cavs'?
After posting its most impressive victory of the season, the Orlando Magic look to carry the momentum into Wednesday's matchup with the visiting Houston Rockets.,Orlando ended the Cleveland Cavaliers' franchise-record 16-game winning streak with a 108-103 road victory on Sunday. The loss was just th...
Pacers open home stretch with visit from Mavericks
The Indiana Pacers begin a pivotal five-game homestand on Wednesday when the slumping Dallas Mavericks come to Indianapolis. ,The Pacers (38-29) head into the closing 15-game stretch of the regular season vying for home-court advantage in an opening-round playoff series. ,Indiana is tied with the Mi...
Maple Leafs embrace tougher test vs. Avalanche
The Toronto Maple Leafs should get a better idea of how far they have rebounded from their recent slump when they host the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night.,With captain Auston Matthews leading the way with two power-play goals and an assist, the Maple Leafs thumped the visiting Calgary Flames ...
Rick Pitino, St. John's zoom in on opener, 15 seed Omaha
St. John's is the sixth different program Rick Pitino has guided to an NCAA Tournament -- so the Basketball Hall of Famer knows better than to get caught looking ahead., ,"I'm just gonna focus on Omaha," Pitino said Sunday. "I've lost in the first round before, so I'm gonna just focus on that.", ,Wi...
No. 11 seed Drake done waiting, dialed in for Missouri
Missouri was thrilled to earn the West Region No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament and the trip to Wichita that came with it. Even if there's a 30-win conference champion waiting for the first-round matchup Thursday. ,"It gives our fans a drivable distance to support us as they supported us all season...
RHP Roki Sasaki to make Dodgers debut vs. Cubs
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki follows in the footsteps of his Japanese countrymen on Wednesday when he makes his MLB debut against the Chicago Cubs in the Tokyo Series.,Shohei Ohtani collected two hits and two runs and Yoshinobu Yamamoto tossed five strong innings as the Dodgers raise...
Wichita St. looks to capitalize on surprise NIT bid against Oklahoma St.
Paul Mills was sure the season was over for his Wichita State team. After the Shockers lost in Friday's quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference tournament, players and coaches parted ways, with a handful leaving Wichita to start spring break.,On Sunday night, though, Mills' daughter was na...