The Docket: A Full Slate Of NBA, NHL, College Basketball On Tap Tonight

The last time the Golden State Warriors played in Miami, they came away with a stunning win over the defending champs. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings are playing Thursday night. So are the San Jose Sharks. And there are seven … count ‘em, seven … college basketball games involving regional teams as the Pac-12 opens its slate along with the Big Sky Conference, the West Coast Conference rolls into its second round of games and UC Davis completes its non-conference schedule.

Here’s the docket:

NBA: Golden State Warriors at Miami Heat, 4:30 p.m.
The Warriors are 9-15 all-time in Miami, including a 97-95 win on Dec. 12, 2012, over the defending NBA champs. Golden State has won six straight games and is a season-high seven games over .500 now at 20-13, just a game and a half in back of the division-leading Clippers. The Heat lead the Southeast Division, again, and are one game behind the Pacers in the Eastern Conference.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Cal Golden Bears at Stanford Cardinal, 6 p.m.
The arch-rivals waste no time renewing hostilities as they meet at Maples Pavilion in the Pac-12 opener for both teams. Stanford leads the all-time series 76-72 and swept last year’s season series, winning 69-59 at Maples on Jan. 19 and at Haas Pavilion 83-70 on March 6. Cal’s last win at Maples Pavilion was on March 6, 2010, when the Golden Bears took down a 71-61 win.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Saint Mary’s Gaels at Gonzaga Bulldogs, 6 p.m.
These two teams have met for the last five West Coast Conference tournament titles, alternating wins since 2009, with Gonzaga winning in the odd-numbered years. Gonzaga leads the all-time series 58-27 and swept three games from the Gaels last season, winning 83-78 in Spokane, 77-60 at Moraga and 65-51 in the WCC tourney final in Las Vegas. Saint Mary’s last win at Gonzaga came on Jan. 27, 2011, a 73-71 triumph.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Sacramento State Hornets at Montana State Bobcats, 6:05 p.m.
The Hornets are 14-26 all-time against the Bobcats and they split last year’s season series. Sacramento State won 62-57 in Sacramento and lost 71-55 at Bozeman. Sacramento State last won at Montana State on Feb. 13, 2011, when the Hornets took a 74-71 win.

NBA: Philadelphia 76ers at Sacramento Kings, 7 p.m.
The Kings own a 16-10 record against Philadelphia at home since moving to Sacramento in 1985, but the 76ers have won the last five games in Sacramento, including a 117-103 win on March 24. The last time the Kings beat Philadelphia at home was a 101-76 victory on Dec. 27, 2006. The Sixers’ five straight wins have all been by double-digits, as well. The Kings are coming off a win at Houston while Philadelphia has won two straight, including a New Year’s night win at Denver.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Simpson Red Hawks at UC Davis Aggies, 7 p.m.
The Aggies get their final tuneup before opening Big West Conference play when they host the NAIA Red Hawks from Redding. Simpson is just 2-14, but is coming off a 71-66 win over Walla Walla on Tuesday. The Aggies have lost eight of nine after a 3-2 start.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Pacific Tigers at Portland Pilots, 7 p.m.
The Tigers dropped their WCC opener to Saint Mary’s on Monday, while the Pilots got off to an 0-2 conference start at home. Pacific holds a 20-6 all-time edge in the series, but haven’t played Portland since the first round of the College Invitational Tournament in 2009, an 82-76 win in Stockton. Their last meeting in Portland was an 80-66 Pacific victory on Nov. 29, 1989.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Loyola Marymount Lions at USF Dons, 7 p.m.
USF is 97-39 against the Lions all-time and swept the regular season series last season, winning 62-53 at War Memorial Gym on Jan. 19 and 61-59 in Los Angeles on Feb. 21. However, the Lions took a 61-60 overtime win in the second round of the conference tournament on March 7. The Dons split two games up north last weekend to open conference play, while LMU is off to a 2-0 start.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Pepperdine Waves at Santa Clara Broncos, 7 p.m.
The Broncos lead the all-time series 70-56 and got a sweep last year with an 83-76 win in Malibu on Jan. 19 and a 70-60 victory at the Leavey Center on Feb. 16. Santa Clara split two at Portland and Gonzaga to open conference play, while the Waves are 2-0.

NHL: Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks, 7:30 p.m.
The Oilers are dead last in the Pacific Division, and the Western Conference, with 31 points, while the Sharks are in second place in the division, seven points in back of Anaheim. It’s the second of five meetings between the new division rivals this season; San Jose took the first game in Edmonton 3-1 on Nov. 15. The Sharks are 24-14-9 against the Oilers at home and won their lone meeting last season in San Jose, 3-2 in a shootout on Jan. 31. San Jose had its four-game winning streak snapped at Anaheim on New Year’s Eve, while the Oilers have lost their last two, in a shootout to the Flyers on Saturday and in overtime at Phoenix on Tuesday.

A lookahead to Friday:
NBA
Warriors at Atlanta, 4:30 p.m.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Oregon at Stanford, 6 p.m.
Oregon State at Cal, 8 p.m.