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NBA-SCHEDULE
James is back in action
UNDATED (AP) — A night after LeBron James scored 61 points in a 124-107 win over Charlotte, Miami's Heat are back in action tonight with a game at Houston. James' big game broke his personal best of 56 points, set when he was playing for Cleveland nine seasons ago. In last night's outing, James hit 22 of his 33 shots, including his first eight three-point attempts.
The Heat start the night in first place in the Southeast Division with a record of 43-14. They are two games back of the Pacers in the NBA's Eastern Conference race. Indiana this evening is home to Golden State.
The top two teams in the NBA West are Oklahoma City and San Antonio. The Thunder start the night with a 1 ½ game lead over the Spurs, and this evening Oklahoma City is home to Philadelphia while the Spurs are in Cleveland.
In the final two games of the night, the Pacific Division-leading Clippers are in Phoenix for a game with the Suns, while the Lakers are home to the Pelicans.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Playoff push resumes tonight
UNDATED (AP) — The jockeying for position in the Stanley Cup playoffs continues tonight with 10 games on the schedule.
In the quest for the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference, idle Washington and Detroit start the night tied with 68 points. While the Capitals have the night off, the Red Wings are playing at New Jersey, against a team just three points back with 65 points.
Columbus is just one point off the pace being set by the Caps and Red Wings, and tonight the Blue Jackets are home to Dallas, the team that holds down the final Western Conference berth. Winnipeg is just two points back of the Stars, and tonight the Jets are home to the Islanders.
Two teams looking up in the Western Conference standings are the Canucks and Coyotes. Vancouver has 66 points, two back of the Stars, while the Coyotes have 65. Tonight they are squaring off in Phoenix.
There's a good Central Division battle as the Blackhawks, who share the lead with St. Louis with 86 points, are home to the Avalanche. Colorado is just three points back of the Blues and 'Hawks. St. Louis has a game as well this evening, at home against Tampa Bay.
Pittsburgh continues to set the pace in the Eastern Conference with 84 points, and tonight the Penguins are in Nashville. Boston's Bruins are three points back of the Pens in the East and tonight Boston is playing at home against the Florida Panthers.
In the final two games of the night, Ottawa is skating at Edmonton and San Jose is home to Carolina.
T25 BASKETBALL-SCHEDULE
Gators look to continue excellence
UNDATED (AP) — The nation's No. 1 team has a road game this evening. Top-ranked Florida has an SEC contest at South Carolina, and the visiting Gators are looking for their 28th win of the season against two losses. Florida has already clinched its third Southeastern Conference regular-season championship in the last four years. The Gators have also set school records for regular-season wins with 27, consecutive wins with 21 and consecutive wins at home, 31. They can become the first team in SEC history to go 18-0 in league play with wins tonight and then on Saturday against Kentucky.
Former No. 1 Syracuse is the next highest ranked team in action as the seventh-ranked Orange have a home game with Georgia Tech. The rest of the schedule features No. 12 Michigan at Illinois, 13th-ranked Creighton at Georgetown, 16th-ranked Iowa State at Baylor and No. 25 Kentucky home to Alabama.
AUTO RACING
Busch will attempt rare feat
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kurt Busch and Andretti (an-DREHT'-ee) Autosport have announced that Busch will try to become the first driver in 10 years to drive in the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Busch, the 2004 NASCAR champion, will try to qualify for the Indy 500 in a fifth car for Andretti. Should he make the May 25 race, Busch will then fly to Charlotte Motor Speedway to fulfill his full-time job with Stewart-Haas Racing in NASCAR's longest event of the year.
Only John Andretti, Tony Stewart and Robby Gordon have attempted the grueling, 1,100-mile "double," and no driver has tried since Gordon in 2004.
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