Sports

DETROIT

March 24: Either the Detroit Pistons or the Kansas City Kings will qualify for the playoffs in the National Basketball Association's Midwest Division. The two teams square off tonight in what could be Detroit Coach Herb Brown's most important game of his short, but hectic, career. Cobo Arena, 7:30 pm, $7-$3, 962-2628.
March 24: Out of the playoffs for the sixth straight season, it's just a matter of playing out the string for our lowly Detroit Red Wings. They'll meet the struggling Washington Capitals in a National Hockey League game at Olympia. 7:30 pm, 895-7000.
March 27: Bill Walton leads the Portland Trailblazers into a showdown with the Pistons at Cobo Arena (8 pm, 962-2628) while the Red Wings host the Atlanta Flames at Olympia. 7:30 pm, 895-7000.
March 31 : The Chicago Bulls invade Cobo Arena for a game with the Pistons (7:30 pm, 962-2628); and the Red Wings face off with the Toronto Maple Leafs at Olympia, 7:30 pm, 895-7000.
April 2: Pistol Pete Maravich and the New Orleans Jazz will try to douse the Pistons' playoff hopes at Cobo Arena, 8 pm, 962-2628.
April 4: Both the Philadelphia 76ers and the Detroit Pistons must win tonight if either has ideas of post-season action. Unfortunately, only one of them will. Cobo Arena, 7:30 pm, 962-2628.
April 4: The season finally comes to a close for the Red Wings who battle the playoff-bound Pittsburgh Penguins at Olympia, 7 pm, 895-7000.
April 7: The Milwaukee Bucks might clinch the Midwest Division title tonight with a victory over the Pistons at Cobo Arena, 7:30 pm, 962-2628.
April 9: It's the Pistons' final home game and the Atlanta Hawks provide the opposition. Cobo Arena, 7:30 pm, 962-2628.
Coming April 13: The weather might not cooperate, but the Detroit Tigers are scheduled to open the home portion of their 76th American League season with a single game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Tiger Stadium, 1:30 pm, $4.50-$1.50, 963-9944.

ANN ARBOR

March 27: The 51st annual Michigan High School Athletic Association's State Basketball Tournament concludes today with the championship games in each of four classes. Crisler Arena.

HORSE RACING

Thoroughbred Racing: Hazel Park, 3:30 pm Monday thru Friday, 2:30 pm, Saturday. $2.00, thru July 18. 398-1000.
Harness Racing: Windsor Raceway, 8 pm, Tuesday thru Saturday, 1:30 pm, Sunday. $2.00, thru April 18. 961-9545.
Harness Racing: Northville Downs, 8 pm Monday thru Saturday. $3-$2, thru April 6. 349-1000.
Harness Racing: Wolverine Raceway (Detroit Race Course), Coming April 12, Monday thru Saturday, 8 pm, $3-$2. 421-7170.