review Page 161 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
Recent defensive slippage motivates Thunder vs. Blazers
For much of the season, the Oklahoma City Thunder's defense has been elite.,During their 24-1 start, the Thunder allowed 103.3 points per 100 possessions -- by far the best mark in the league.,But in the eight games since, their defense has slipped.,Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander says that nee...
Raptors enjoying depth that injury-ravaged Nuggets crave
The Denver Nuggets begin at least one month without star center Nikola Jokic because of a hyperextended left knee when they visit the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night.,Jokic hobbled to the dressing room in the final seconds of the first half of Monday's 147-123 loss at the Miami Heat and did not r...
Red Wings tout self-belief as they welcome sinking Jets
The Detroit Red Wings will head into the new year with at least a share of first place in the Atlantic Division. They can maintain sole possession with a win over Winnipeg in Detroit's annual New Year's Eve home game on Wednesday.,That's a nice, and unusual, place to be for a franchise that hasn't q...
Knicks, Spurs ring out 2025 with NBA Cup final rematch
The New York Knicks can build on a three-game winning streak and produce a repeat result of the NBA Cup final when they visit the suddenly struggling San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday in a clash between two of the league's best teams.,The Knicks and Spurs squared off in the finals of the NBA's in-seaso...
St. John's hopes to get better of longtime rival Georgetown once again
Old rivals meet again on the eve of a new year when St. John's and host Georgetown clash Wednesday night in Washington, with Big East play getting firmly under way.,The Red Storm (8-4, 1-0 Big East) and Hoyas (9-4, 1-1), founding members of the Big East Conference in 1979, have been playing each oth...
Wild making best of long road trip so far, take on Sharks
The Minnesota Wild look to stay perfect on their longest road trip of the season when they wrap up the 2025 portion on Wednesday afternoon against the San Jose Sharks.,San Jose is the third stop on the seven-game stretch away from Saint Paul. On Monday, the Wild blew out the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2...
Injuries, rebounding will matter as Pels go for third straight vs. Bulls
Things were starting look up for the Chicago Bulls and the New Orleans Pelicans.,But both teams have hit hard times in recent days leading up to their meeting Wednesday night in Chicago.,The Bulls (15-17) had won five straight games before losing their last two. Of greater concern are the injuries t...
No. 4 UConn's Silas Demary Jr. providing boost ahead of Xavier matchup
No. 4 UConn proved a little bit of hydration can go a long way in a Dec. 21 win over DePaul.,The Huskies (12-1, 2-0 Big East) were struggling when junior guard Silas Demary Jr. abruptly had to leave the floor. He came back strong, however, to lead the Huskies to a 72-54 win.,UConn takes the floor ag...
Villanova's impact frosh Acaden Lewis presents challenge for DePaul
Kentucky's loss certainly has been Villanova's gain.,Freshman point guard Acaden Lewis committed to Kentucky early in his senior year, but decommitted in April in search of someplace new. That place happened to be at Villanova with new coach Kevin Williard, who recruited the Washington, D.C. native ...
Syracuse, Clemson carry 3-game winning streaks into league opener
The end of the calendar year marks the start of conference play for Syracuse and visiting Clemson, which square off Wednesday in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.,The Orange (9-4) and Tigers (10-3) both enter their New Year's Eve matchup with three-game winning streaks, although i...
No. 6 Duke seeking refinement as it opens ACC slate vs. Georgia Tech
After enjoying its longest in-season break of the year, No. 6 Duke begins Atlantic Coast Conference play when it hosts Georgia Tech on Wednesday in Durham, N.C.,Duke (11-1) hasn't taken the court since it blew a 17-point second-half lead to then-No. 19 Texas Tech in an 82-81 loss on Dec. 20.,Of the ...
No. 1 Indiana going against No. 9 Alabama, history in Rose Bowl
Blue blood meets new blood when Alabama and Indiana square off in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl on Thursday in Pasadena, Calif.,Though the ninth-seeded Crimson Tide have a storied history, they are the underdogs coming in with something to prove.,The Hoosiers entered the s...
NC State, Wake Forest enter ACC play with plenty to prove
Wake Forest and North Carolina State have much more than just identical records in common going into their Atlantic Coast Conference opener.,Both teams have a lot to prove in league play, so there's no better time to get to work on that than Wednesday afternoon in Raleigh, N.C.,"We've got 18 of thes...
Steven Stamkos eyes 600th goal as Predators visit Vegas
Nashville forward Steven Stamkos will try to cap what has already been a December to remember as he attempts to join the 600-goal club when the Predators face the slumping Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday afternoon in Las Vegas.,Stamkos scored two third-period goals in a 98-second span -- the 598th...
Ducks look to break three-game skid vs. Lightning
The Anaheim Ducks are looking for fewer turnovers and better production on scoring opportunities as 2025 closes.,Having lost three consecutive matches, Anaheim will host the Tampa Bay Lightning in the middle contest of a three-game homestand in a matinee matchup on New Year's Eve.,A strong showing t...
Suns bring four-game win streak into matchup with Cavaliers
The Phoenix Suns have a chance to match their longest winning streak of the season when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.,Dillon Brooks scored 26 points and Collin Gillespie had 25 points and six assists for Phoenix in a 115-101 victory over the host Washington Wizards on Monday, exte...
Pacers, Magic meet with work to do while void of stars
The visiting Orlando Magic will look to prolong the Indiana Pacers' dreadful season on Wednesday afternoon as the teams close out 2025 at Indianapolis.,Just six months removed from being a win away from an NBA championship, the Pacers have the league's worst record at 6-27 as the close of a roller-c...
No. 21 Virginia opens ACC action at rival Virginia Tech
Will old acquaintances be forgot? Not when longtime adversaries Virginia Tech and No. 21 Virginia clash on New Year's Eve in Blacksburg, Va.,Wednesday afternoon's Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams is an intriguing matchup as it pits resurgent rivals coming off rare losing seasons.,Afte...
Wolves put improved defense up against fading Hawks
While the team is on a downward slide, a bright spot for the Atlanta Hawks has been the ascension of Onyeka Okongwu.,After losing seven consecutive games, and 11 of their last 13, the Hawks return home on Wednesday to play the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have won 11 of their last 15.,Okongwu, an und...
Stephen Curry returns home as Warriors face Hornets
Stephen Curry hopes for a lucky 13th homecoming when the Golden State Warriors make their annual visit to Charlotte to take on the Hornets on Wednesday afternoon.,The son of former NBA star Dell Curry attended Charlotte Christian High for three years before moving on to nearby Davidson for his colle...