review Page 88 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

USC, entering rivalry matchup with UCLA, can't afford another slip-up
Crosstown rivals riding opposite trajectories clash on Tuesday in Los Angeles when UCLA hosts Southern California.,The Bruins (18-9, 10-6 Big Ten) come into this season's first matchup with the Trojans off of their biggest win of the campaign. Donovan Dent's last-second overtime layup capped his 14-...

Magic, Desmond Bane carry hot streak into meeting with Lakers
The Orlando Magic will put their February revival to another road test on Tuesday when they finish a four-game trip against Western Conference teams with a matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers.,The Magic are 5-2 since Feb. 5 and 7-4 going back to Jan. 28 following a 111-109 victory over the Los An...

Auburn hopes to work itself off bubble with Oklahoma up next
Auburn is striving to build momentum and get away from the NCAA Tournament bubble.,Oklahoma is trying to make positive steps now that its only potential path to the NCAA Tournament figures to be an unlikely run through the SEC tournament. The Sooners host the Tigers on Tuesday in Norman, Okla.,Aubur...

TCU still in conversation for NCAA bid as it hosts Arizona State
TCU tries to stay in the hunt for a NCAA Tournament berth when it hosts enigmatic Arizona State on Tuesday in a late-season Big 12 Conference clash in Fort Worth, Texas.,The Horned Frogs (17-10, 7-7 Big 12) have won four of their last five outings to put themselves back in the discussion for an at-l...

Florida State rides impressive run into matchup with stout Miami
One can make a compelling case that Florida State turned its season around starting with its first matchup against rival Miami.,The Seminoles were 7-11, 0-5 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, before winning 65-63 at Miami on Jan. 20. That victory started an active streak of seven wins in the past ni...

Timberwolves try to recalibrate visiting injury riddled Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers surrendered a season-worst 157 points Friday and allowed a season-low 77 less than 48 hours later.,Through quite the startling difference, Portland will hope it can unleash another stellar defensive effort when it hosts the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night.,The Trai...

Soaring Celtics aim to continue hot streak visiting fading Suns
While the Phoenix Suns search for offense, the Boston Celtics are thriving behind Jaylen Brown, who belongs in the MVP conversation, according to one four-time MVP.,"This whole MVP thing, I don't understand why his name is not getting talked about some as well," LeBron James said after Brown stuffed...

Wounded Warriors search for success vs. struggling Pelicans
The injury-hit Golden State Warriors will again be reliant on role players when they travel to New Orleans to face the Pelicans on Tuesday.,Golden State pulled off a surprise 128-117 victory over the Denver Nuggets in San Francisco on Sunday, despite going into the clash severely short-handed.,Steph...

Bucks host surging Heat in key East play-in race matchup
An important stretch of home games continues for the Milwaukee Bucks as they host an Eastern Conference rival, the Miami Heat, on Tuesday night.,Milwaukee entered Sunday on a hot streak, having won six of seven, but lost to the Toronto Raptors 122-94 to start the homestand.,It was the start of a 10-...

Coby White's Hornets debut in the air against former team Bulls
Heavy roster turnover and mounting on-court turnovers have plagued the Chicago Bulls during a nine-game losing streak.,As they host the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday and attempt to avoid their longest skid since losing 10 straight during the 2018-19 season, the Bulls are offering neither obstacle as ...

Knicks search for season sweep of red-hot Cavaliers
All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns has openly bristled about his decreased offensive production with the New York Knicks, but all involved are feeling better after a strong weekend.,New York, which is third in the Eastern Conference standings, travels to Cleveland to take on the fourth-place Cavalie...

Raptors try to sweep season series as Thunder visit Toronto
One team will emerge with a three-game winning streak Tuesday night when the Oklahoma City Thunder visit the Toronto Raptors.,The Thunder will also aim to avenge their 103-101 home loss to the Raptors on Jan. 25.,After entering the All-Star break with losses, the Thunder and Raptors have each won tw...

Finally off the schneid, Mavericks face struggling Nets
In the month that passed between their last two wins, the Dallas Mavericks tweaked their roster by dealing Anthony Davis and lost Cooper Flagg to a foot injury, but still finished games with the same frustrating result until Sunday night.,After ending a 10-game losing streak, the Mavericks hope to g...

Kentucky, in rare 3-game SEC slide, takes aim at South Carolina
Kentucky's roller coaster ride of a season reached a nadir on Saturday at Auburn.,The Wildcats lost in controversial fashion, falling 75-74 on a last-second tip-in by Auburn's Elyjah Freeman. The setback was the third in succession for Kentucky (17-10, 8-6 Southeastern Conference), its first such sk...

Oklahoma State, West Virginia each need a win to keep postseason chance
Oklahoma State's road map to the NCAA Tournament is pretty easy to follow. The team needs to win its last four regular-season games to have any chance at an at-large bid.,The Cowboys (16-11, 4-10 Big 12), who have lost five straight including three by double digits, will start this quest Tuesday whe...

Georgetown, Marquette meet in Big East basement battle
Two teams, both moving in the wrong direction, will wrap up their season series when Georgetown hosts Marquette on Tuesday night in Washington.,Just one game separates Georgetown (13-14, 5-11 Big East) and Marquette (9-18, 4-12) at the bottom of the conference standings. Xavier, Providence and Butle...

Indiana moves on to crucial closing stretch, starting vs. Northwestern
Indiana forward Tucker DeVries described the Hoosiers' last four regular-season games as "massive for us trying to make that NCAA Tournament.",Stronger seeding for the conference tournament can only help the Hoosiers (17-10, 8-8 Big Ten).,The same goes for a short memory. Indiana is set to host Nort...

Washington, Rutgers battle to avoid Big Ten tournament opening round
As they enter the home stretch of the Big Ten season, Washington and Rutgers share the same goal: avoid the opening round of the conference tournament.,The Huskies (13-14, 5-11 Big Ten) and Scarlet Knights (11-16, 4-12), who meet Tuesday in Piscataway, N.J., are currently in 13th and 14th place, res...

Youth movement leading Wizards into matchup with Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks continue their five-game homestand on Tuesday with the first game of a back-to-back series against the Washington Wizards.,The Hawks are coming off a 115-104 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. Atlanta erased an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to collect the much-needed win and r...

No. 23 Saint Louis aims to keep strong A-10 lead vs. Dayton
No. 23 Saint Louis looks to maintain its firm grip on first place in the Atlantic 10 Conference when it visits Dayton on Tuesday.,The Billikens (25-2, 13-1 A-10) rallied in the second half to knock off second-place VCU 88-75 on Friday. Reserve guard Kellen Thames led Saint Louis with 16 points and s...