NFL-SCHEDULE
Big game tonight
UNDATED (AP) β The premier game of the day in the NFL is being played this evening as the top two teams in the NFC East square off. The game has the Eagles playing host to the Cowboys. Coming into play the teams are tied for first with identical records of 9-4. Another reason the game should be entertaining is that the Eagles are 6-1 at home this season while the Cowboys are 6-0 on the road. In division play the Eagles have the advantage, having won all three of their games, while the Cowboys are 2-2. Philadelphia won the first meeting of the teams, 33-10 on Nov. 27th.
Among the early starts today one of the top matchups has the Patriots hosting Miami. In the AFC East New England is first with a record of 10-3 while the Dolphins and Bills are tied for second at 7-6. Buffalo this week is home to Green Bay as the Packers look to increase their lead in the NFC North over Detroit. The Packers start the day with a record of 10-3 while the Lions, who are home to the Vikings, are 9-4.
In what could be a key AFC South game the Colts are home to the Texans. Indianapolis is in first in the division with a record of 9-4 while the Texans are 7-6.
A game to keep an eye on is in Cleveland as the Browns entertain the Bengals. First and foremost the Bengals lead the AFC North at 8-4-1 while the Browns are 7-6. The game also marks the debut of Cleveland quarterback Johnny Manziel (man-ZEHL’), the 22nd overall pick in this year’s draft. Pittsburgh and Baltimore begin play today right behind the Bengals in the division with records of 8-5. The Steelers are in Atlanta today while the Ravens are home to Jacksonville.
Derek Anderson is filling in at quarterback this week for the Panthers as the injured Cam Newton has to sit out the game which has Carolina home to Tampa Bay.
The remaining early starts feature Oakland at Kansas City and Washington in New Jersey to face the Giants.
Among the later starts Denver is playing at San Diego. The Broncos top the AFC West with 10 wins and 3 defeats while the Chargers are in second at 8-5.
In the NFC West the defending league champion Seahawks are home to San Francisco. The visiting 49ers are 7-6 with Seattle 9-4.
And the Jets are on the road this afternoon for a game with the Titans.
NBA-SCHEDULE
Warriors playing for 21st victory
UNDATED (AP) β The red-hot Golden State Warriors look for another win today when they play the Pelicans in New Orleans. The Warriors start the day with the best record in the league at 20-2, and the team being coached by rookie Steve Kerr has won 15 straight games. The Pelicans are an even 11-11 on the season.
The Southeast Division-leading Wizards are home to the Utah Jazz today. Washington tops the division with a record of 16-7 while the Jazz are just 6-17 with losses in nine of their last 10 games.
Central Division leader Chicago is on the road for a game in Miami. The Bulls have won two straight and lead the idle Cavaliers by a game. The Heat have dropped six of their last 10 outings.
With the return of Kevin Durant the Oklahoma City Thunder have found the way to win again. They enter tonight’s game with Phoenix riding a five-game winning streak while the Suns have dropped their last four games.
Two last-place teams are meeting in Minneapolis as the Timberwolves entertain the Lakers. The home team has the worst record in the West with just five wins against 17 defeats while the Lakers are 7-16.
In an Atlantic Division game the Raptors are playing the Knicks in New York. Toronto tops the division while the Knicks are just 5-20, two games ahead of last-place Philadelphia.
And in Denver the Nuggets are home to the Spurs. The league champs are 16-7 on the year while the homestanding Nuggets are 10-13.
NHL-PENGUINS
Pens’ star has the mumps
PITTSBURGH (AP) β You can add Sidney Crosby of the Penguins to the list of NHL players that have come down with the mumps. The league is dealing with a widespread outbreak of the virus, with players from Anaheim, Minnesota, the Rangers and Devils among those affected.
The Penguins announced the diagnosis after holding the two-time MVP out of games Friday and Saturday as a precaution when swelling developed on the right side of Crosby’s face. The club says Crosby should be through the infectious stage by Monday but will not play Monday night when Pittsburgh hosts the Tampa Bay Lightning.
NHL-SCHEDULE
One day game on ice
UNDATED (AP) β The three-game NHL schedule today features one matinee affair. That game is being played in Toronto as the Maple Leafs look for their fifth straight win in a contest against the Kings. The Leafs are 8-1-1 since losing 9-2 at home to Nashville on Nov. 18. The defending champion Kings had Saturday off after losing to the Canadiens 6-2 on Friday.
This evening Chicago’s Blackhawks are home to Calgary. The Flames are trying to avoid a four-game road losing streak. They dropped the first three games of the eastern swing to the Leafs, Sabres and Penguins. Chicago is coming off a loss on Saturday that finished an eight-game winning streak.
The final game is being played in Edmonton as the Oilers are playing host to the Rangers. For New York this is the second game in a four-game road swing. They opened things up with a 5-1 win over the Canucks yesterday.
T25-MEN’S BASKETBALL-SCHEDULE
Cardinals lead the way
UNDATED (AP) β Louisville, the fourth-ranked team in the weekly men’s Associated Press Top-25 basketball poll, is the highest-ranked team in action today. The 8-0 Cardinals are home to UNC Wilmington. In the other Top-10 game today seventh-ranked Villanova, which is unbeaten in nine games, is home to the Temple Owls.
The rest of the schedule has 14th-ranked Iowa State entertaining Southern, No. 15 Butler at Tennessee, 17th-ranked Washington home to Eastern Washington, West Virginia, the 22nd-ranked school, home to Marshall and No. 24 St. John’s home to Fordham.
