The week ahead
Published 12:00 am Monday, March 5, 2018
- Soccer ball on grass
A rundown of games and events to watch for locally and nationally from the world of sports (all times Pacific):
Monday
NBA basketball, Portland at Los Angeles Lakers, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSNW): In their only road game during a three-week stretch, the red-hot Trail Blazers meet a resurgent Lakers team that is coming off back-to-back winning months for the first time in nearly five years. Portland, which is riding a six-game winning streak and enters the week a surprising No. 3 in the Western Conference, is 2-0 against the Lakers this season.
Tuesday
Prep girls basketball, Class 5A tournament, Bend vs. Central at Corvallis, 6:30 p.m.: The Intermountain Conference champion Lava Bears are in the state tourney for the sixth time in seven seasons. Bend routed Lebanon in the first round of the playoffs to get to the quarterfinals at Oregon State’s Gill Coliseum, where the No. 6-seeded Bears will face No. 3 Central of Independence.
Wednesday
Prep boys basketball, Class 5A tournament, Mountain View vs. Thurston at Corvallis, 6:30 p.m.: The No. 6-seeded Cougars won the Intermountain Conference title this season, then rallied for an overtime playoff win over Crescent Valley to earn a trip to the state tournament. Their quarterfinal game at Gill Coliseum will be a rematch with the No. 3 Colts from the Midwestern League, who beat Mountain View 75-68 in Springfield in mid-December.
Wednesday-Saturday
Men’s college basketball, Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas (Pac-12 Network, FS1): Both Oregon State and Oregon are long shots for the automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament that goes to the winner of the four-day conference tourney at T-Mobile Arena. Both teams open on Wednesday, the No. 10-seeded Beavers against No. 7 Washington (6 p.m., Pac-12 Network), the No. 6 Ducks against No. 11 Washington State (8:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network).
Thursday
Prep boys basketball, Class 4A tournament, Sisters vs. Banks at Forest Grove, 1:30 p.m.: Saturday’s playoff win over Henley advanced the No.8-seeded Outlaws to the program’s first appearance at the 4A final site since 2012. Sisters’ quarterfinal opponent at Forest Grove High School is a tall, talented and top-seeded Banks team. The Sky-Em League champion Outlaws have won six straight games going into the tournament.