preview Page 83 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
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...
Wake Forest, UNC enter ACC matchup clinging to NCAA bubble
CHARLOTTE -- North Carolina and Wake Forest meet in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament quarterfinals with similar mindsets in terms of their overall postseason outlook.,Many projections suggest both teams need a victory Thursday afternoon to keep alive their NCAA Tournament hopes.,"Our eyes an...
Past two No. 1 picks face off as Blackhawks battle Sharks
The first overall picks of the past two NHL drafts will finally oppose each other when Connor Bedard's Chicago Blackhawks visit Macklin Celebrini's San Jose Sharks on Thursday.,The teams split their first two meetings in October, but Celebrini didn't play in either matchup due to a lower-body injury...
No. 18 Wisconsin attempts to regroup against Northwestern
Wisconsin looks to bounce back from its disappointing end to the regular season when the 18th-ranked Badgers face Northwestern Thursday afternoon in the second round of the Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis.,The 13th-seeded Wildcats (17-15) advanced with a 72-64 victory over Minnesota on Wednesday ...
No. 6 St. John's stirs 1980s memories prepping for Butler
NEW YORK -- For the first time in nearly 40 years, St. John's enters the Big East tournament as the top seed.,After winning their first outright regular-season title since the 1984-85 season, the No. 6 Red Storm (27-4) open their quest to win their first conference tournament since 2000 when they fa...
Top-ranked Duke prepared for test from Georgia Tech
CHARLOTTE -- Duke will play with the No. 1 national ranking next to its name for the first time this season when it takes the court in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament quarterfinals Thursday afternoon.,The Blue Devils face Georgia Tech with hopes of solidifying an NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed....
Caps' Pierre-Luc Dubois faces former team in visit to L.A.
Pierre-Luc Dubois didn't last long with the Los Angeles Kings. Just one season into his eight-year contract, he was traded to the Washington Capitals last June for goalie Darcy Kuemper.,Dubois will make his first return to Los Angeles when the Eastern Conference-leading Capitals, who have won five i...