Minnesota United returns home Saturday looking to bounce back from a frustrating collapse, while the Los Angeles Galaxy hopes to ride some momentum after securing its first point of the MLS season. Minnesota (2-1-1, 7 points) had a statement road victory in its grasp last week at Sporting Kansas City, holding a commanding 3-0 lead after 70 minutes. But the Loons unraveled late, conceding three goals in a 13-minute span and settling for a draw that felt more like a loss. Manager Eric Ramsay acknowledged the gut-wrenching nature of the result, but emphasized his team’s strong play for the majority of the match. Despite the setback, Minnesota still holds a top-half position in the Western Conference and continues to draw

The Minnesota Timberwolves (40-31) are searching for answers after back-to-back losses, including a frustrating 119-115 defeat to the New Orleans Pelicans (19-51) on Wednesday night. The rematch on Friday night in Minneapolis offers the Timberwolves a quick chance to bounce back and regain their winning form. After an impressive eight-game winning streak, Minnesota suddenly finds itself in a funk. Star forward Julius Randle expressed his concern, saying, “We’ve just got to get our energy back, man — our swag. It’s crunch time in the season, and we’re kind of pressing… We’re not playing with that same spirit or the same confidence.” Minnesota is still jockeying for position in the tight Western Conference playoff race, making Friday’s game vital. The Timberwolves

The Cleveland Cavaliers (56-13), Eastern Conference leaders, are set to face the Phoenix Suns (33-37) on Friday night, aiming to snap a rare three-game losing streak. The Cavs are currently on a five-game Western Conference road swing and have already dropped their first two contests, falling to the Los Angeles Clippers (132-119) and Sacramento Kings (123-119) on back-to-back nights. The skid, coupled with a prior 108-103 home loss to the Orlando Magic, marks the Cavaliers’ longest losing streak of the season. Despite the slump, Cleveland still holds a comfortable lead in the East, but the Boston Celtics are closing in, cutting the gap to just six games with three straight wins. However, Cleveland’s recent struggles have cost them the league’s

The Los Angeles Clippers (39-30) are hitting their stride at just the right time, riding a wave of momentum as they prepare to take on the Memphis Grizzlies (43-27) on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena in Inglewood, California. With seven wins in their last eight games, the Clippers are making a strong case as a legitimate contender in the Western Conference. Even as head coach Tyronn Lue continues to deal with back discomfort, missing four of the past six games, the team has shown remarkable resilience. Assistant coach Brian Shaw has stepped up in Lue’s absence, guiding the Clippers through a stretch that has seen key players return from injury and reach peak performance. One of the most encouraging signs