NHL action resumes on Wednesday, we have a full week of NBA games, and the race for regular-season NCAA conference championships is heating up. Here are the biggest sporting events taking place each day in the U.S. this week.
Monday
College Basketball
#21 Louisville @ #16 North Carolina at 7:00 p.m. EDT on ESPN.
ESPN's Big Monday coverage starts with an Atlantic Coast Conference clash between the Louisville Cardinals and the North Carolina Tar Heels. Since beating Duke, UNC is 2-2 and looking for more consistency on the hardwood. On the other end, the Cardinals are aiming for their third win of the season over a top-25 opponent.
One question that will be answered: Can Louisville's 14th-ranked offense (86.8 points per game) lead them to a win over the Tar Heels, who are undefeated this year at home?
#2 Houston @ #8 Kansas starting at 9:00 p.m. EDT on ESPN.
The second game of ESPN's doubleheader will be a top-ten matchup at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. The Cougars need to right the ship after losing their last two games against top-ten-ranked opponents. Meanwhile, the Jayhawks are hoping for a bounce-back win after suffering a frustrating and unexpected 16-point road loss to the Cincinnati Bearcats.
One question that will be answered: Will potential number-one overall pick Darryn Peterson actually come through and play a full game after subbing himself out of Kansas' matchup against Oklahoma State last Wednesday?
Tuesday
NBA
New York Knicks @ Cleveland Cavaliers starting at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Peacock.
Even on a slow Tuesday night, we will get a marquee matchup in the NBA's Eastern Conference when the third-seeded Knicks travel to Cleveland to face the fourth-seeded Cavs. New York has recovered from its blowout loss to the Detroit Pistons and is gunning for a third consecutive victory. Simultaneously, the Cavaliers are trying to get back on track after a close loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday.
One question that will be answered: Who will win the battle between Cleveland's number-three scoring offense (119.7 points per game) and New York's seventh-ranked defense (111.8 points per game)?
Wednesday
NHL
Regular-season action picks back up again starting at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
Now that the 2026 Olympics are over, the National Hockey League will pick back up again with eight games on Wednesday night. We get a potential playoff preview when the Dallas Stars face the Seattle Kraken, followed by the Pacific-leading Vegas Golden Knights going against the playoff-hungry Los Angeles Kings. With the end of the regular season less than two months away, we are in the home stretch of the 2025-26 campaign, so every game carries a lot of importance.
One question that will be answered: Will the extended break help or hurt teams that were previously on a hot streak before the Winter Olympics began?
College Basketball
#17 St. John's @ #5 UConn starting at 7:00 p.m. EDT on Peacock and NBCSN.
The race for the Big East crown heats up when the Red Storm and the Huskies go head-to-head for the second time this season. UConn is looking to get revenge on the Johnnies for the 81-72 loss they suffered at Madison Square Garden on February 6th. With St. John's leading UConn by a half-game in the conference standings, this matchup will play a huge part in who ends up claiming the Big East regular-season title.
One question that will be answered: Do the Huskies have an answer for Red Storm senior forward Zuby Ejiofor, who led all players in points, assists, and rebounds when these teams last met?
Thursday
College Basketball
#15 Michigan State @ #7 Purdue starting at 8:00 p.m. EDT on Peacock.
After surviving a scare against Ohio State on Sunday, the Michigan State Spartans are trying to win their third game in a row. Though the Purdue Boilermakers recently fell to Michigan, they responded in a big way with a 29-point victory over Indiana. Just like the Spartans, the Boilermakers will be looking to continue to build momentum before the start of the 2026 Big Ten Conference Tournament on March 10th.
One question that will be answered: Who will win the point guard matchup between the two best passers in the country: Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr. (first in assists per game) or Purdue's Braden Smith (second in assists per game)?
NHL
Edmonton Oilers @ Los Angeles Kings starting at 10:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN.
In one of the few standout NHL games scheduled for this week that will be broadcast nationally, three-time MVP Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers need a win to keep pace with the Vegas Golden Knights for first place in the Pacific Division. But, they will have their hands full with a Los Angeles Kings squad that is just three points out of the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
One question that will be answered: Will the Kings' sixth-ranked defense (2.77 goals allowed per game) be able to contain the Oilers' fourth-ranked offense (3.41 goals per game)?
Friday
NBA
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Detroit Pistons starting at 7:00 p.m. EDT on ESPN.
The Cavs and Pistons go against one another for the third time this season in what could be a preview of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals. Though the Cavs won the first matchup in the season series by 21 points, the last outing between these squads was only decided by four points. A win for the Cavs will be crucial because it might move them ahead of the Knicks in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
One question that will be answered: Will Cleveland's third-ranked offense (119.7 points per game) or Detroit's third-ranked defense (109.3 points per game) prevail in the battle between an immovable force and an unstoppable object?
Denver Nuggets @ Oklahoma City Thunder starting at 9:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN.
Reigning MVP and 2025 NBA Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to make his return from injury against superstar center Nikola Jokić and the West's third-seeded Nuggets. OKC guard Ajay Mitchell and Denver's Aaron Gordon are also lined up to return from injury in this game, so two of the best teams in the West will be getting back meaningful contributors. At the same time, the Nuggets hope to get one over on the Thunder for the 121-111 loss they suffered at the hands of OKC on February 1st.
One question that will be answered: Will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander still be hampered by his abdominal strain, or will he play like the MVP candidate we have come to expect?
College Basketball
#1 Michigan @ #10 Illinois starting at 8:00 p.m. EDT on Fox.
Following their 68-63 loss to Duke on Saturday, the Michigan Wolverines will have another top-ten matchup against the Illinois Fighting Illini at the State Farm Center. With three losses in its last five games, Illinois needs this win to get back on track and finish the regular season with a bang. However, the Fighting Illini will have to be at their best against a Wolverines squad that has yet to lose a conference road game this season.
One question that will be answered: In a matchup between two of the best offenses in the country (Illinois - 22nd, Michigan - seventh), will either team score at least 100 points?
Saturday
College Basketball
#14 Virginia @ #3 Duke starting at 12:00 p.m. EDT on ESPN.
With the Duke Blue Devils likely assuming the number-one spot in the country after their win over the Wolverines, they will face another top-25 opponent when the Virginia Cavaliers come to town for their lone regular-season matchup against each other. The Blue Devils are hoping to win their fourth consecutive game against the Cavaliers, while Virginia looks to extend its regular-season win streak to ten games, assuming they beat North Carolina State on Tuesday.
One question that will be answered: How will potential number-one overall pick Cameron Boozer play against a Virginia defense that is tied for fourth in the nation in blocks per game (six)?
#8 Kansas @ #4 Arizona starting at 4:00 p.m. EDT on ESPN.
For the second time this week, the Jayhawks will face a top-five-ranked opponent. However, they'll be the road team in this matchup against the Arizona Wildcats, who are coming off their best win of the season, a 73-66 victory over the second-ranked Houston Cougars. If either team wants a shot at earning a number-one seed in the NCAA Tournament, they'll need to win this game.
One question that will be answered: Will Arizona's 12th-ranked offense (87.2 points per game) take advantage of Kansas' middling defense (68.6 points per game, 55th in the country)?
#13 Texas Tech @ #6 Iowa State starting at 4:00 p.m. EDT on CBS.
After starting the season with an impressive 21-2 record, the Iowa State Cyclones are 2-2 in their last four games, with losses to unranked TCU and the 23rd-ranked BYU Cougars. Conversely, the Texas Tech Red Raiders are 4-1 in their last five matchups and even secured an overtime road victory against the previously top-ranked Arizona Wildcats. Considering both teams are just two games back from the top spot in the Big 12, this contest will go a long way in determining how the conference standings shake out.
One question that will be answered: With Texas Tech's leading scorer, JT Toppin, out for the season, can the Red Raiders still find ways to beat championship-caliber teams?
Sunday
NHL
Vegas Golden Knights @ Pittsburgh Penguins starting at 1:00 p.m. EDT on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max.
Two teams in the hunt for a playoff spot are hoping to improve their standings in their respective conferences when the Metropolitan Division's second-seeded Penguins play host to the Pacific-leading Golden Knights. After Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby had to miss the 2026 Winter Olympics Gold Medal Game, he’ll be looking to get back out on the ice and do some damage. However, new Gold medalist Jack Eichel hopes he can bring the success he had in the Olympics back to Vegas as he chases his first 100-point season.
One question that will be answered: Will the Penguins' fourth-ranked offense (3.41 goals per game) overwhelm the Golden Knights' 14th-ranked defense (3.04 goals allowed per game)?
NBA
San Antonio Spurs @ New York Knicks starting at 1:00 p.m. EDT on ABC.
In what might end up being a preview of the 2026 NBA Finals, Victor Wembanyama leads the Spurs into the Big Apple for a game against the Knicks. When these teams went head-to-head on New Year's Eve, San Antonio squeaked out a 134-132 victory. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns combined for 49 points in that contest, while Wembanyama logged 31 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
One question that will be answered: Will Victor Wembanyama have another signature performance at MSG like he did last time, when he recorded 42 points, 18 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks?
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Denver Nuggets starting at 3:30 p.m. EDT on ABC.
After the Knicks and Spurs play, the Nuggets and Timberwolves will meet in their final matchup of the regular season. Denver is hoping for a clean sweep of Minnesota, but the T-wolves are trying to at least get one win on the board before the season series wraps up. With these teams combining for 280 points the last time they got together on Christmas Day, we can expect that there will be no shortage of offense in this matchup.
One question that will be answered: With Minnesota's Anthony Edwards ranking third in points per game (29.5) and Nikola Jokić leading the league in assists and rebounds per game, which MVP candidate will have a better performance?
