Highlights of the week ahead in sports, both here and afar:
TODAY
Series: “Dancing With The Stars,” 9 p.m., Channel 7:
Does Sugar Ray Leonard, Hines Ward and Chris Jerico make you want to watch? This is not our idea of the Big Dance.
NHL: Kings vs. Calgary, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., FSW:
If the Kings can’t solidify their own playoff spot, can they at least snuff out the Flames’?
TUESDAY
NBA: Lakers vs. Phoenix, 7:30 p.m., FSW, TNT:
We saw how the Lakers struggled against the Blazers without Andrew Bynum; does it repeat itself for Game 2 of his suspension?
WEDNESDAY
NBA: Clippers vs. Washington, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., Prime Ticket:
In a 21-point win at Washington a couple of weeks ago, the Clippers got all of Blake Griffin’s 26 points before halftime.
NHL: Ducks at Dallas, 5:30 p.m., FSW:
Is this three-game road trip the beginning of the end for the Ducks?
THURSDAY
College basketball: Men’s tournament, Sweet 16: San Diego State vs. UConn at Honda Center in Anaheim, 4:15 p.m., Channel 2; Florida vs. BYU in New Orleans, 4:27 p.m., TBS; Duke vs. Arizona at Honda Center in Anaheim, 6:45 p.m., Channel 2; Wisconsin vs. Butler in New Orleans, 6:57 p.m., TBS:
If the Big East is indeed overrated, then UConn can perhaps change that opinion by knocking off San Diego State and then the winner of Duke/Arizona this weekend.
NHL: Kings vs. San Jose, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., FSW:
Recent problems playing at home don’t fare well for the Kings against the Pacific Division leaders.
NHL: Ducks at Nashville, 5 p.m., Prime:
Predators vs. Ducks. Even Discovery Channel watchers know who to bet the mortgage on.
Golf: PGA’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, first round, 10 a.m., Golf Channel:
Tiger Woods has won this six times in the last 10 years. As if it matters now.
FRIDAY
College basketball: Men’s tournament, Sweet 16: North Carolina vs. Marquette in Newark, N.J., 4:15 p.m., Channel 2; Kansas vs. Richmond in San Antonio, 4:27 p.m., TBS; Ohio State vs. Kentucky in Newark, N.J., 6:45 p.m., Channel 2; Florida State vs. Virginia Commonwealth in San Antonio, 6:57 p.m., TBS:
That VCU victory over USC in that fake first round looks pretty good now, eh?
NBA: Lakers vs. Clippers, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., FSW, Prime:
Last matchup in the Hallway Series this season, and the best the Clippers can do it win to even it up at 2-2 for the season.
SATURDAY
College basketball: Men’s tournament, Elite Eight: UConn/San Diego State vs. Duke/Arizona and BYU/Florida vs. Butler/Wisconsin, 1:20 or 3:55 p.m., Channel 2:
Jimmer, are you here?
NHL: Kings vs. Colorado, Staples Center, 1 p.m., FSW:
There’s daylight between the Kings and Colorado: The Avs are the next-to-last worst team in the conference.
NHL: Ducks at Chicago, 5:30 p.m., FSW:
The Ducks’ trip ends blackhawk and blue.
NBA: Clippers vs. Toronto, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., Prime:
According to EarthHour.org, we’re supposed to turn our lights off between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. If it saves Donald Sterling money, why wouldn’t he do it?
MLS: Galaxy at Real Salt Lake, 6 p.m., Prime (delayed at 10 p.m.):
They met in the 2009 MLS title game. Do any of them remember that?
SUNDAY
College basketball: Men’s tournament, Elite Eight: Ohio State/Kentucky vs. Marquette/North Carolina and Kansas/Richmond vs. Virginia Commonwealth/Florida State, 11:10 a.m. or 1:55 p.m., Channel 2:
It’s on to Houston for the last two survivors here.
NBA: Lakers vs. New Orleans, Staples Center, 6:30 p.m., FSW:
The way things line up, they could be first-round playoff opponents.
NASCAR: Sprint Cup Auto Club 400 at Fontana, noon, Channel 11:
We understand giving Southern California just one NASCAR stop a season, but who made the schedule? The series was in Las Vegas and Phoenix — and then went to Bristol, Tenn., last week before coming back west. Then they go to Martinsville, Va., from here. Do they think it won’t rain or something here?
