w Page 40 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Celtics, Cavaliers battle for position in East standings
Two of the top four teams in the Eastern Conference are set to battle Sunday afternoon in Cleveland, where the Cavaliers host the Boston Celtics.,Boston, which stands in second place behind the Detroit Pistons, has become the most dangerous squad in the conference with the return of star power forwa...

Reports: Cowboys put 2nd-round tender on K Brandon Aubrey
The Dallas Cowboys placed the $5.7 million second-round tender on kicker Brandon Aubrey, still hoping to sign the restricted free agent to a multi-year contract extension, ESPN reported Saturday.,The move allows Aubrey to sign an offer sheet with another team. The Cowboys would then have the right t...

Rams place CB Darious Williams on reserve/retired list
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Darious Williams has retired after eight NFL seasons.,The Rams on Saturday announced that they had placed Williams on the reserve/retired list.,That move comes on the heels of Wednesday's reports that Los Angeles agreed to acquire All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie from th...

Mavericks F Khris Middleton fined $25K for mouthpiece incident
Dallas Mavericks forward Khris Middleton's wallet will be a little lighter after he was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Saturday for "throwing his mouthpiece in the direction of the spectator stands.",Middleton was assessed a technical foul for the incident that occurred in the third quarter of the Mave...

Rory McIlroy, Austin Smotherman WD from Arnold Palmer Invitational
Rory McIlroy withdrew ahead of his third round Saturday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational due to a back injury.,Austin Smotherman pulled out during his round, also with a back injury, at the Bay Hil Club & Lodge in Orlando, Fla.,World No. 2 McIlroy of Northern Ireland was 4-under through two rounds ...

Report: Ball State fires coach Michael Lewis after 4 seasons
Ball State fired men's basketball coach Michael Lewis after three consecutive losing seasons, The Field of 68 reported Saturday.,The Cardinals wrapped up the regular season Friday night with an 85-69 defeat of Central Michigan. The victory wasn't enough to save the job of Lewis, whose team finished ...

Trial of Guardians pitchers moved to November
The federal trial for two Cleveland Guardians pitchers accused of rigging pitches in exchange for a kickback from bettors has been moved to November.,The trial of pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz was scheduled to start May 4 in the Eastern District of New York, but Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto move...

Austin Smotherman (back) WDs from Arnold Palmer Invitational
Austin Smotherman withdrew during Saturday's third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational due to a back injury.,He bogeyed three of the first five holes at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Fla., before leaving the course.,Smotherman, 31, opened with a 2-over 74 on Thursday before carding a 1...

Celtics C Nikola Vucevic (finger) sidelined 3-4 weeks
Boston Celtics center Nikola Vucevic could miss the rest of the regular season following surgery to repair a broken right ring finger.,The injury occurred during the first quarter of Friday's 120-100 victory against the visiting Dallas Mavericks. He had surgery to stabilize the fracture on Saturday ...

No. 3 Michigan eyes big finish vs. No. 8 Michigan State
When No. 8 Michigan State and No. 3 Michigan meet for their regular-season finale on Sunday afternoon in Ann Arbor, the Big Ten title won't be on the line because the Wolverines claimed that trophy nine days prior.,NCAA Tournament seeds shouldn't be on the line because the Wolverines (28-2, 18-1) ar...

Blackhawks broadcaster, ex-forward Troy Murray dies at 63
Former Chicago forward and longtime Blackhawks broadcaster Troy Murray died on Saturday after a long battle with cancer. He was 63.,"The Chicago Blackhawks are deeply heartbroken today as we mourn the loss of Troy Murray, our beloved 'Muzz,' and our love and support go out to his family," team chair...

Reports: St. Bonaventure coach Mark Schmidt likely to retire
St. Bonaventure basketball coach Mark Schmidt is expected to retire at the conclusion of the season, multiple outlets reported Saturday.,He is in his 19th season coaching the Bonnies and has compiled a 339-253 record -- the most wins by a coach in program history. He has taken St. Bonaventure to the...

No. 11 Illinois meets Maryland with eyes on Big Ten triple-bye
No. 11 Illinois can clinch a triple-bye in next week's Big Ten tournament with a victory at Maryland on Sunday in College Park. But it might not even come to that.,If No. 15 Purdue wins Saturday at home over Wisconsin or if Iowa takes care of No. 9 Nebraska on Sunday, the Fighting Illini will be ass...

New-look Islanders hope to halt West Coast skid against Sharks
The New York Islanders will have a new look down the middle when they visit the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night, looking to end a two-game skid.,New York acquired center Brayden Schenn from the St. Louis Blues before Friday's trade deadline. The 34-year-old, who has 12 goals and 28 points in 61 ga...

Timbers pursue stingier start in encounter vs. Whitecaps
The Portland Timbers will try to break their pattern of conceding early goals on Saturday night when they host a Vancouver Whitecaps side that has started the season strongly in multiple competitions.,Portland (1-1-0, 3 points in MLS) conceded in the sixth minute in each of its first two league matc...

Hot Hurricanes intent on dousing cold Flames
The Eastern Conference-leading Carolina Hurricanes will look to complete the Western Canada sweep when they visit the Calgary Flames on Saturday night.,The Hurricanes arrive in Calgary riding a two-game winning streak that consists of a 6-4 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday and a 6-3 w...

Happy Olivier-Maxence Prosper ready to help Grizzlies vs. Clippers
Olivier-Maxence Prosper has taken advantage of the opportunities that arose this season as the Memphis Grizzlies endured one injury after another.,As a result, the Grizzlies rewarded the 6-foot-7 forward with a standard contract earlier this week after he began the season on a two-way deal that was ...

Lots of new faces for Canucks-Jets matchup
When the Winnipeg Jets host the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night, both clubs will feature overhauled rosters following Friday afternoon's NHL trade deadline.,Winnipeg said goodbye to Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn late Thursday night, and to Tanner Pearson on Friday, as all three were shipped to B...

Kings working to heat up against visiting Canadiens
The Los Angeles Kings sent a few reminders at the trade deadline that they're still serious about making the playoffs.,They just need to start winning.,The Kings will try for two wins in a row when they host the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.,Los Angeles is coming off a 5-3 victory over the New Yor...

Oregon's woeful season comes to an end vs. Washington
Longtime rivals Washington and Oregon will finish their lackluster regular seasons when they meet Saturday in Eugene, Ore.,Oregon (11-19, 4-15) has no hope of qualifying for the NCAA Tournament without winning next week's Big Ten tournament and gaining the automatic entry. Washington (15-15, 7-12) ...