review Page 40 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
Blazers intent on improving playoff position in matchup vs. reeling Mavericks
The Portland Trail Blazers already have clinched a postseason berth for the first time in five seasons, even if it's just a spot in the play-in tournament.,Interim coach Tiago Splitter and his team want much more than that, however.,After winning five of its last six games to get back to .500 for th...
Nearly locked into play-in, Warriors try to improve seeding vs. Wizards
With a spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament almost a certainty, the Golden State Warriors will look to improve their positioning down the stretch, beginning with a Friday date against the Washington Wizards in San Francisco.,Golden State (35-38) pulled out of a recent tailspin in which ...
Nuggets look to extend home surge with visit from Jazz
The Denver Nuggets struggled to win at Ball Arena for most of the 2025-26 season, but they are now taking advantage of playing at home during the stretch run.,Denver (46-28) has won five in a row on its court after a 17-13 home start and can make it six in a row when the struggling Utah Jazz visit F...
Sweet 16 mainstays Tennessee, Iowa State target next steps
CHICAGO -- Playing without second-team All-American forward Joshua Jefferson for most of the NCAA Tournament has forced Iowa State to regroup.,As the second-seeded Cyclones prepare for Friday's Midwest Region semifinal against No. 6 Tennessee, they know they'll have to rebound -- whether Jefferson i...
Rockets hope listless Grizzlies are cure for their recent skid
When the Houston Rockets visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, it will be difficult to know which team feels worse.,The Grizzlies (24-48) have lost 12 of their last 13 and taken lopsided losses in back-to-back games.,The Rockets (43-29) have lost four of their past six, including a heart-wrenching ...
UConn, Michigan State muscle up in East Region semis
WASHINGTON -- Tom Izzo will attempt to coach Michigan State one step closer to his ninth Final Four when they meet a familiar UConn squad in Friday night's NCAA Tournament East Regional semifinal.,Izzo's third-seeded Spartans (27-7) have had a relatively comfortable trip through the tournament, easi...
Thunder look to keep pace in race for No. 1 seed vs. Bulls
The Oklahoma City Thunder are in a tight battle for the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs heading into Friday's matchup with the Chicago Bulls at home.,"It's very important and not just in the West, in the whole playoffs," Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. "We needed Game 7 at home against...
Thriving Jayson Tatum leads Celtics into battle vs. Hawks
Jayson Tatum will attempt to take another step forward in his return from surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon when the Boston Celtics try to cool off the visiting Atlanta Hawks on Friday night., ,Tatum turned in what was arguably his best performance of the season during Wednesday's 1...
Cavaliers see good process in bad result entering Heat rematch
The return of small forward Norman Powell to the starting lineup helped the Miami Heat end their five-game losing streak and move into sole possession of eighth place in the Eastern Conference.,A second consecutive road game against the fourth-place Cleveland Cavaliers is next for the Heat on Friday...
Michigan in familiar environs, wants different result vs. Alabama
CHICAGO -- Top-seeded Michigan occupies the same United Center locker room for the NCAA Tournament as it did during the Big Ten tournament two weeks ago.,Eager to eradicate bad memories of a loss to Purdue in the conference title game, the Wolverines players changed locker assignments ahead of Frida...
Healthier Duke takes on resurgent St. John's in Sweet 16 showdown
WASHINGTON -- Naismith Award favorite Cameron Boozer and Duke will continue their pursuit of the program's sixth national title and first since coach Mike Krzyzewski's retirement when they face Rick Pitino's resurgent St. John's in Friday night's East Regional semifinal.,Boozer posted his 20th and 2...
Bennedict Mathurin returns as surging Clippers visit Pacers
Looking to take advantage of a golden opportunity to bolster their play-in tournament status, the Los Angeles Clippers begin a two-game Eastern Conference road trip on Friday against the fading Indiana Pacers at Indianapolis.,Los Angeles (37-36) was all but written off in late December after beginni...
Sabres cling to division lead, want to win more battles vs. Red Wings
The Buffalo Sabres have lost their last two games in overtime as they prepare to host the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night.,But the Sabres are still in first place in the Atlantic Division, three points clear of the second-place Tampa Bay Lightning, and appear to be a lock to break their 14-season ...
Yankees face Giants again, determined to show even more
The New York Yankees will not put too much stock into their lopsided season-opening victory, or a fruitless performance from three-time American League MVP Aaron Judge.,Following the Yankees' 7-0 romp on the road against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, followed by an abrupt day off Thursday, ...
Rockies, Marlins seek positive start to 34th seasons
The Colorado Rockies and then-Florida Marlins entered the majors together as expansion teams in 1993.,On Friday, the Rockies and Marlins will meet on the diamond in Miami to open their 34th seasons.,Colorado and Miami split six games in 2025, with the road team recording a sweep in both series.,Not ...
'It never gets old': Braves' Chris Sale eager for Opening Day start vs. Royals
The Atlanta Braves will start the new season with a new manager, but with a familiar face atop the rotation when they open on Friday night at home against the Kansas City Royals.,Walt Weiss takes the managerial reins from Brian Snitker, who retired in October after 10 seasons in the role. Snitker, 7...
Blue Jays, downplaying 'defending' status, open against A's
The Toronto Blue Jays might have been a surprise last season when they came close to winning the World Series.,Another successful season, however, would be no surprise. This year they will carry the burden of high expectations into their 50th anniversary season, which will open Friday night against ...
Pistons host Pelicans, looking to bounce back from rare loss
The Detroit Pistons had their four-game winning streak snapped by the red-hot Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. They'll look to start a new one when they host the lowly New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.,Detroit dropped a 130-129 overtime thriller at home to the Hawks. Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren both mi...
Knights out to snap slide in key clash with rival Oilers
Second place in the Pacific Division will be on the line Thursday night when the Edmonton Oilers visit Las Vegas to take on the Vegas Golden Knights.,Edmonton (35-28-9, 79 points), which trails first-place Anaheim by five points, enters the contest with a one-point lead over Vegas (32-26-14, 78 poin...
Hungry for points, Kings face spoilers in Canucks
Pacific Division rivals meet in what could be a playoff-deciding matchup for the Los Angeles Kings when they visit the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.,The game is the second of four between these teams this season, with the final three matchups in the final month of the regular season. Los Ange...