review Page 483 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
Nuggets, Bucks resisting urge to put wins over health
With only a few weeks left in the regular season, playoff-bound teams have to decide whether to prioritize wins or health.,The Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets both have chosen health over potential playoff seeding as they prepare for their matchup Wednesday night in Colorado.,The Bucks (40-31) ar...
Nets, Raptors playing the (NBA draft) odds
The Brooklyn Nets and Toronto Raptors are separated by two games in the NBA's second-most important standings -- the race for the best lottery odds that lead to drafting Duke star Cooper Flagg.,While their players are trying to prove themselves in the NBA, both teams' management might prefer to incr...
Lakers look to halt woes in matchup with soaring Pacers
The visiting Los Angeles Lakers will look to rely on their superstars to pull them out of a slump on Wednesday, when they face the surging Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis.,Los Angeles (43-28) has dropped three in a row and seven of 10 entering play, as it desperately tries to hold on to a top-four se...
Guardians, Royals look to continue momentum in AL Central clash
The Cleveland Guardians and Kansas City Royals emerged as surprise playoff teams last season.,Now comes the challenging part: Meeting heightened expectations.,The Guardians and Royals will each look to begin marching back to the playoffs Thursday afternoon, when Cleveland visits Kansas City in an Op...
After rough homestand, Devils aim for more consistency at Chicago
The New Jersey Devils have occupied third place in the Metropolitan Division for more than two months and hold a seven-point edge on the New York Islanders and New York Rangers with 10 games remaining.,While that may seem like plum playoff positioning entering Wednesday's visit to the slumping Chica...
Islanders, Canucks eye playoffs in battle of ninth-place teams
The state of their rosters and the arc of their seasons do not suggest the New York Islanders and Vancouver Canucks should still be in the postseason race less than a month before the Stanley Cup playoffs begins.,But the Islanders and Canucks will both attempt to continue their unlikely playoff push...
Wizards, 76ers continue to wrap up lost seasons
Something has to give Wednesday when the Washington Wizards visit the Philadelphia 76ers with each team looking to snap a five-game losing streak.,Washington (15-56) owns the worst record in the NBA, although the Wizards were likely anticipating a season full of growing pains for their young, inexpe...
Phillies begin NL East defense against hopeful Nationals
The Philadelphia Phillies start the defense of their National League East title when they visit the Washington Nationals on Thursday.,The Phillies outdistanced the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets by six games for the division title last season -- finishing 95-67 -- but lost a division series to the...
New-look Astros open season vs. Juan Soto, Mets
The Houston Astros will open the 2025 season by hosting the New York Mets on Thursday while seeking two objectives: to pursue a ninth consecutive playoff appearance and to close the book on a tumultuous offseason that included the departure of two franchise stalwarts.,With third baseman Alex Bregman...
Garrett Crochet to make Red Sox debut vs. Rangers
Two teams looking to jump back into American League contention clash in a season-opening series as the Texas Rangers host the Boston Red Sox. The first of four games is set for Thursday afternoon in Arlington, Texas.,Following three straight playoff misses, the Red Sox made an offseason splash by ad...
Orioles, Blue Jays open season with AL East rivalry showdown
The Toronto Blue Jays and the visiting Baltimore Orioles plunge right into a significant AL East confrontation to start the season on Thursday afternoon.,The Blue Jays are opening the season at home for the first time since 2022 with the four-game series after starting on the road in 2023-24 because...
Optimistic White Sox, Angels eye rebound from franchise-worst '24
Mike Trout is out to prove once again he's built to last as a cornerstone of the Angels. The Chicago White Sox are crossing their fingers they won't prove to be built for last. ,As Opening Day optimism swirls, the White Sox and Los Angeles Angels hope Thursday's pomp lasts longer than one afternoon....
Rare pitching duel on tap as Marlins, Pirates open season
It will be a pitching matchup befitting Opening Day when the Pittsburgh Pirates meet the Marlins in Miami on Thursday.,Pittsburgh will send to the mound Paul Skenes, the 2024 National League Rookie of the Year. For Miami, the starter will be Sandy Alcantara, the NL Cy Young Award winner in 2022, sid...
Jackson Chourio, Brewers bid for fast start in opener vs. Yankees
The Milwaukee Brewers and New York Yankees endured difficult endings to their respective postseason runs last season. They also lost a big bat from their lineup.,While the Brewers blew a two-run lead in the ninth inning in Game 3 of their National League wild-card series, the Yankees squandered a fi...
Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks draw Cubs to begin highly anticipated season
One of the most anticipated seasons in recent memory opens for the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. The Cubs may be glad to be back stateside.,The D-backs committed $210 million to sign free agent right-hander Corbin Burnes, and they shored up other roster spots in the offs...
Twins visit old friend Sonny Gray, Cardinals for Opening Day
The Cardinals are counting on Opening Day starting pitcher Sonny Gray to serve as their staff ace this season.,But Gray, who was 13-9 with a 3.84 ERA last season, posted a 12.56 ERA in four spring appearances. That struggle will earn him extra scrutiny Thursday afternoon when the Cardinals start the...
Thunder vie to reach 60-win plateau in clash vs. Kings
The Oklahoma City Thunder seek a 60th win in a season for the first time in 12 years when they visit the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.,Having already clinched the Western Conference regular-season title and the top seed in next month's playoffs, the Thunder (59-12) get an opportunity to coast h...
Red Wings seek to build momentum vs. red-hot Avalanche
The Detroit Red Wings' postseason hopes are fading fast after the team looked poised to make a return to the playoffs approximately one month ago.,Detroit (33-31-6, 72 points) lost nine of its 11 previous games before posting a 5-1 victory at Utah on Monday night. ,The Red Wings wrap up a four-game ...
Without Tomas Hertl, Golden Knights take aim at Wild
The Vegas Golden Knights will be without their top goal scorer when they open a three-game road trip against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night in Saint Paul, Minn.,Tomas Hertl, who has 31 goals, will miss the road trip because of an injury that he sustained Sunday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. ...
Knicks look to prevent Mavericks from picking up steam
Jalen Brunson isn't the only key injured player for a New York Knicks team that is looking at a relatively short period of time before it becomes something close to whole.,The Dallas Mavericks are hoping Monday night's glimpse of what it'd be like to have Anthony Davis carry an injury- and trade-dep...