T25 BASKETBALL-SCHEDULE
Shockers look to stay perfect
STL. LOUIS (AP) — The 31-0 Wichita State Shockers start play in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament today with a quarterfinal game against Evansville. The Purple Aces advanced with a first-round win over Drake. The championship game is being played Sunday in St. Louis.
The Wichita State-Evansville game is the only game on the men’s Top-25 schedule today.
NBA-SCHEDULE
Rockets host Pacers tonight
UNDATED (AP) — One of the better match-ups in the NBA tonight is being played in Houston as the Rockets entertain the Pacers. The Rockets, who have won three straight and eight of their last 10, start the night 3 1/2 games back of Oklahoma City in the Western Conference standings along with Portland and the Clippers.
This evening Portland, which is 42-19, is in Dallas while the Clippers have the night off. The Mavericks hold the eighth and final playoff berth in the West right now.
The Pacers have the best overall record in the league at 46-15 and they lead Miami by two games in the Eastern Conference standings.
Toronto has built up a three-game lead in the Atlantic Division with a record of 33-26. Tonight the Raptors are home to visiting Sacramento.
Your remaining games this evening feature Chicago at home to Memphis, Cleveland at Charlotte, the Celtics at home to Brooklyn, the Knicks hosting the Jazz, Detroit at Minnesota, the Pelicans at home to Milwaukee, the Lakers visiting Denver and Atlanta at Golden State.
The Hawks enter the night with the final playoff berth in hand in the Eastern Conference.
NHL-SCHEDULE
No. 1 to host No. 2
UNDATED (AP) — The two conference leaders in the NHL are facing off tonight in Anaheim as the Ducks play host to the Penguins. Anaheim has 92 points to lead the Western Conference and all of hockey while Pittsburgh has 86 to lead the Eastern Conference.
This is the second and final meeting of the season for these clubs. Pittsburgh won the first encounter 3-1 back on Nov. 18 when the teams combined for four goals over a 4:04 span in the third period.
The Penguins have had a sluggish start since the end of the Olympic break, going 1-2-1 with 16 goals allowed. The Ducks have earned points in their three games, all at home, since returning from the Sochi (SOH’-chee) break.
That game is by far the best of the night. The rest of the short schedule has Carolina hosting the Rangers, New Jersey at Detroit, Buffalo at Florida and Calgary at home to the Islanders.
FORMULA 1
Schumacher update
PARIS (AP) — A spokeswoman for seven-time Formula One driving champion Michael Schumacher says he is “still in the wake-up phase” of his medically induced coma. It’s been more than two months since Schumacher suffered severe head injuries in a skiing crash.
GOLF-CADILLAC CHAMPIONSHIP
Completion of opening round today
DORAL, Fla. (AP) — The first round of the Cadillac Championship wasn’t completed yesterday because of rain and darkness in Doral, Fla. When play was stopped the clubhouse lead was held by Harris English at 3-under-par.
As play resumes today Phil Mickelson is even par through 14 holes and Tiger Woods is five back at 2-over through 10.
PGA-PUERTO RICO CLASSIC
Stuard stands on top
RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico (AP) —Brian Stuard enters today’s second round of the PGA event in Puerto Rico with a one-shot lead over Jason Gore and Danny Lee. Stuard opened play yesterday with a 6-under 66 that included birdies on seven of his first 12 holes.
NASCAR
NASCAR hits Vegas
Las Vegas (AP) — This week’s stop on the NASCAR circuit is in Las Vegas with qualifying taking place today. This is the third race of the 2014 schedule with Dale Earnhardt Jr. having won at Daytona and Kevin Harvick in Phoenix.
