review Page 58 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Young guns trying to impress as Pacers, Nets compete for lottery balls
A game between the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets can be viewed as a race to obtain better draft lottery odds.,It can also be viewed as two teams with young players trying to make favorable impressions on teams to stay in the NBA.,Both things are factors Thursday night when the Pacers visit the Ne...

Jets, Blues in desperate need of win to keep hope alive
The playoff outlook remains slim for both the Winnipeg Jets and the Blues heading into Thursday night's matchup in St. Louis.,The Jets (34-31-12, 89 points) enter this crucial game four points back of the final Western Conference wild-card spot, held by the Nashville Predators, while the Blues (33-3...

Eliminated Panthers trying to keep Senators out of playoffs
It's been more than a decade since the Ottawa Senators reached the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.,Two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida is trying to keep it that way.,Ottawa (41-27-40, 92 points), 3-1 on a current five-game homestand, hosts the short-handed Panthers (37-37-4, 78 points) ...

Penguins a win vs. Devils away from clinching 1st playoff spot in 4 years
The Pittsburgh Penguins are one win away from clinching their first Stanley Cup Playoff spot in four years, and they can get that Thursday when they visit the New Jersey Devils in Newark, N.J.,Pittsburgh (40-22-16, 96 points) comes into the final week of the regular season having won two straight an...

Wizards looking to snap 7-game skid, avenge recent defeat vs. Bulls
The Chicago Bulls snapped a seven-game losing streak at the expense of the Washington Wizards on Tuesday.,Losers of seven in a row themselves, the NBA-worst Wizards will love nothing more than to return the favor Thursday when the teams reconvene in Washington, D.C.,Rob Dillingham scored a career-hi...

Raptors hope to tighten hold on playoff spot with sweep of Heat
The Toronto Raptors aim to tighten their hold on a playoff spot Thursday night when they go for a sweep of the season series against the visiting Miami Heat.,Toronto earned a 121-95 home victory Tuesday in the first of back-to-back games with the Heat.,That left the Raptors (44-35) in the sixth play...

Atlantic Division-contending Canadiens, Lightning set for battle
Two of the teams tied atop the Atlantic Division in points face off when the Tampa Bay Lightning visit the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.,The Lightning (48-24-6, 102 points), the Canadiens (46-22-10, 102 points) and the Buffalo Sabres (47-23-9, 102 points) each have a shot at claiming the div...

Flyers look to continue hot streak vs. sliding Red Wings
With the regular season winding down, the Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings are heading in opposite directions. ,The Flyers look to continue their hot stretch Thursday when they visit the Red Wings, who are scuffling to the finish line. ,Philadelphia (40-26-12, 92 points) has won nine of its...

Spurs without Victor Wembanyama with Trail Blazers in town
The San Antonio Spurs will be without star center Victor Wembanyama as they look to keep alive their slim shot at home-court advantage throughout the playoffs when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday in a game with postseason implications on both sides.,The Spurs (60-19) are guaranteed...

Ascending Sharks take aim at Connor McDavid, Oilers
The San Jose Sharks will look to keep pace in the Western Conference wild-card race when they conclude a six-game homestand against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night.,William Eklund collected a goal and an assist in San Jose's 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday. Kiefer Sherwood and W...

Suns, bound for play-in tournament, take on Cooper Flagg, Mavs
The Phoenix Suns spent the first 79 games of the NBA season in a vain attempt to lock up a top-six seed in the Western Conference playoffs.,Their task now is to hang on to postseason spot No. 7.,The Suns (43-36) blew a 21-point lead and were crushed 55-34 on the boards in a 119-105 home loss to Hous...

Thunder eager to clinch top spot in West in visit to Clippers
The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder can clinch the top playoff seed in the Western Conference for the third consecutive season when they face the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday at Inglewood, Calif.,The Thunder (63-16) are red-hot heading toward the playoffs with an 18-1 record in their l...

Pistons intent on sharpening skills in home finale vs. Bucks
The top seed and home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs already is locked up. ,The Detroit Pistons now can gear up for what they hope is an extended postseason run while trying to avoid a major injury.,They'll host the Milwaukee Bucks in their final regular-season home game ...

Strong-starting Yanks proving cynics wrong, go for win No. 9 vs. A's
The New York Yankees are only 10 games into a season with most of the same roster that was underwhelming in the American League Division Series last fall against the Toronto Blue Jays.,So far, the results have been strong for the Yankees, who will attempt to earn a ninth win in their first 11 games ...

Wolves clinch playoffs; Magic try to make play-in spot disappear
The Minnesota Timberwolves clinched their spot in the Western Conference playoffs with their win and a loss by the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.,The postseason picture isn't nearly as clear for the Orlando Magic, who will host the Timberwolves on Wednesday.,Minnesota (47-32) holds the sixth position in t...

Pitching-strapped Cubs turn to Colin Rea to start against Rays
The Chicago Cubs are dealing with pitching injuries they've been handed this week, losing starters Matthew Boyd and Cade Horton.,Boyd is dealing with a left biceps strain that led to the team placing him on the 15-day injured list on Monday. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said he expects the left-hande...

With Diamondbacks in town, Mets winning without Juan Soto
It's been three games without Juan Soto for the New York Mets -- and three wins fueled by unlikely players.,The Mets will look to lock up another series win Wednesday afternoon when they host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the middle game of a three-game set.,Left-hander David Peterson (0-1, 4.66 ERA) ...

Reds relying on strong pitching ahead of rematch vs. Marlins
Cincinnati has a majors-worst 34 runs this season. Of that total, five have come in extra innings.,Despite the team-wide hitting slump, the Reds are 8-3 because their pitching ranks fifth in the majors with a 2.82 ERA. The Reds' staff should get even better once two injured starters return: Hunter G...

Reid Detmers aims to guide Angels to series win vs. Braves
Two pitchers coming in off strong starts in which they did not gain a decision will take the mound Wednesday afternoon when the Los Angeles Angels face the Atlanta Braves in the rubber match of their three-game series in Anaheim, Calif.,Los Angeles left-hander Reid Detmers (0-0, 2.38 ERA) will start...

Hot outfielders lead Nationals, Cardinals into decisive game
St. Louis outfielder Jordan Walker will look to continue his hot streak when the Cardinals and Washington Nationals meet in the rubber game of their three-game series Wednesday afternoon in the nation's capital.,Walker homered for the second straight night and third time in four games Tuesday to hel...