The New York Knicks, under steady head coach Tom Thibodeau and team leader Jalen Brunson, are focused on one goal for 2025: winning their first NBA title in over 50 years.
The Knicks will begin their push for a successful 2025 on Wednesday night when they play the Utah Jazz in their final regular-season meeting. Both teams had a break on New Year’s Eve after playing Monday night. The Knicks won 126-106 against the Washington Wizards, while the Jazz lost 132-121 to the Denver Nuggets.
The win against the Wizards was the Knicks’ eighth straight, and they finished 2024 strong. The team went 56-27 in the regular season during the year and made it to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. This was the Knicks’ deepest playoff run since 2000, when they reached the Eastern Conference finals.
New addition Karl-Anthony Towns, who joined the Knicks in October from the Minnesota Timberwolves, recorded 32 points and 13 rebounds in the win.
OG Anunoby, celebrating his one-year anniversary with the team after being traded from the Toronto Raptors, added 18 points and 8 rebounds. Mikal Bridges, another key addition from the Brooklyn Nets, contributed 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Utah Jazz (NBA)
Brunson and Josh Hart also continued to play well, with Brunson scoring 18 points and adding 6 assists, and Hart posting a triple-double with 23 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists.
“We have a game plan, we just want to win, and we know we have a lot of weapons,” Brunson said. “That’s the goal, to win the game.”
On the other hand, the Jazz are struggling with injuries, which have interrupted their rebuilding efforts. Utah is 7-24 and on track for one of their worst seasons in franchise history. The Jazz’s worst season was in 1974-75 when they won just 23 games.
John Collins missed his fourth consecutive game on Monday due to a left hip injury. The Jazz were outscored 34-23 in the third quarter against the Nuggets and have now lost four straight games, all by 11 points or fewer. This season, they’ve lost 13 games by that margin.
“For whatever reason, our energy faded as the game ended, and that’s something we can control,” said Jazz head coach Will Hardy. “But I’m proud of some of the progress from our guys.”
Keyonte George, who had missed the previous four games with an ankle sprain, played 28 minutes and scored 7 points with 6 assists.
The Houston Rockets are looking to fix their late-game struggles as they prepare to face the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. In their recent games, the Rockets have had trouble finishing strong, especially in the final minutes.
Against the Miami Heat on Sunday, the Rockets blew a 12-point lead in the second half and scored just 18 points in the fourth quarter. Most of those points came late in the game when the outcome was already decided. They struggled to make shots, finishing 6-for-25 in the fourth quarter.
This was similar to their collapse against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, where they gave up a 16-point lead in the last five minutes.
Houston’s shooting has been a major issue. They rank near the bottom in the NBA for 3-point shooting percentage (32.7%). When their outside shots aren’t falling, teams are crowding the paint, making it harder for players like Jalen Green to drive to the basket, and doubling Alperen Sengun to limit his post moves. This has led to poor finishes in games.
“Scoring at the end in both of those games obviously stands out, and that’s something that has to be addressed,” coach Ime Udoka said.
Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder
“We are guarding well enough to hold Minnesota to 100 until they go on their run, but we are struggling to score at the end. And so that’s something that needs to be solved.”
Houston will be without Amen Thompson for Wednesday’s game after he was suspended for two games due to his role in a scuffle against Miami.
The Mavericks, meanwhile, are also dealing with injury problems. In their recent 110-100 loss to the Sacramento Kings, Dallas played without four key players: Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and Dereck Lively II. Despite the missing players, Dallas fought hard but lost for the third time in their last four games.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said, “We felt confident with the group we went out there with (on Monday). We’re just trying to find a way with the bodies that we have.”
With several players injured, Kidd has been relying heavily on P.J. Washington and Spencer Dinwiddie, who combined for 58 points in the loss to Sacramento.
The Miami Heat are hoping to have All-Star Jimmy Butler back on the court when they play the struggling New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.
However, it’s unclear how long Butler will be available.
Butler has missed the last five games due to a flu-like illness. During this time, there have been reports that Butler wants a trade as part of ongoing contract talks. He was not very clear about his feelings when he spoke after returning to practice on Tuesday.
“Right now, I’m here and I’m going to make the most of it,” Butler said. “I am going to compete and I’m going to win. It’s a lot of talk, a lot of noise, which I’m cool with. It doesn’t bother me at all. I love that. I thrive with it. It keeps you all wondering, the world wondering. It’s good to be talked about. Even better to be wanted.”
Butler’s situation is not the only possible distraction. The Heat’s last game, a 104-100 win against Houston on Sunday, ended with a late-game altercation.
“It’s a shame that that’ll be the discussion of this game because really it was more about the competitive character and that toughness that our guys brought,” coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Tyler Herro made a clutch jumper to give Miami a one-point lead with 1:56 left, and Nikola Jovic extended the lead with a 3-pointer 47.4 seconds later.
Jimmy Butler and Scottie Barnes in the 2nd half
In the closing moments, Herro had words with Rockets forward Amen Thompson, who grabbed Herro’s jersey and threw him down. Players and coaches from both teams rushed in, causing a brief scuffle.
Herro and teammate Terry Rozier were ejected, along with four Rockets players. On Tuesday, the NBA announced Rozier would serve a one-game suspension against New Orleans, and Herro was fined $25,000.
The Pelicans had a chance to win their most recent game but lost their 10th straight, 116-113, against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.
New Orleans had a 14-point lead at one point and kept battling in the fourth quarter. But James Harden hit two free throws with 17.9 seconds left to break a tie, and rookie Yves Missi missed a free throw with 4.3 seconds left, preventing a chance to tie the game.
“We have to be more consistent,” guard Dejounte Murray said. “It is tough, but we are trying to figure it out. I can say nobody in that locker room is showing up with the mindset of ‘We are going to lose, do not want to be here or do not want to play.’”
CJ McCollum led New Orleans with 33 points, including a season-high eight 3-pointers, and the Pelicans made a season-high 18 three-pointers. McCollum said it takes time for him and Murray, who was acquired in an offseason trade with Atlanta, to build chemistry, as they’ve only played 15 games together because of injuries.
“I am finally at a spot where I feel like myself,” McCollum said. “Obviously when losing games, you want to help any way you can, but you feel like you are coming up short. … We are heading in a good direction. It’s just unfortunate that we dug such a horrible hole.”
The Chicago Bulls are aiming for their third straight win as they head to Washington to face the struggling Wizards on Wednesday.
The Bulls are coming off a 115-108 overtime victory against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday. Coby White led the charge with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists, helping the Bulls outscore Charlotte 17-10 in overtime after the Hornets hit a game-tying 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation.
Zach LaVine, who missed Monday’s win due to a toe injury, is the team’s top scorer with 22 points per game and is considered a game-time decision for Wednesday’s game.
The Bulls’ previous win came on Saturday, when they beat the Milwaukee Bucks 116-111 in a thrilling game at home. White hit a go-ahead jumper with 31 seconds left, and the Bulls sealed the win with free throws.
White has been a key contributor, averaging 18 points per game this season, after posting a career-high 19.1 points per game last year.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan praised White’s development, saying his ability to impact games in different ways has been key to his growth.
“His defense has gotten better. He finds ways to rebound, come up with loose basketballs, get assists. He’s doing a lot of different things,” Donovan said.
Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Wizards
Nikola Vucevic has been consistent for the Bulls, averaging 20.6 points and 10 rebounds per game.
The Wizards, on the other hand, are struggling, having lost their last two games to the New York Knicks. They fell 136-132 in overtime on Saturday and 126-106 on Monday.
In Saturday’s game, Justin Champagnie scored a career-high 31 points, but the Wizards couldn’t stop Jalen Brunson’s 55-point performance.
On Monday, the Wizards’ offense was more in line with their season’s struggles, with Jonas Valanciunas leading the way with 22 points off the bench. Only two starters, Alexandre Sarr and Malcolm Brogdon, scored in double figures.
Jordan Poole, the Wizards’ top scorer with 21.3 points per game, missed the last two games due to a hip injury. He is listed as a game-time decision for Wednesday’s game. Kyle Kuzma returned to the lineup on Monday after missing time with a rib injury, scoring 9 points in 21 minutes.
“We need everybody,” Valanciunas said. “It’s good to see Kuzma back and hopefully, he’s not going to go down again.”
The Orlando Magic are heading into the new year hoping to get their two best players back soon. In the meantime, they will try to maintain their slim lead in the Southeast Division.
Despite major injuries to Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, the Magic have reached 20 wins this season. They aim to start 2025 strong with a game against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.
Banchero, who has been gradually increasing his activity, has only played five games so far. Wagner has been out since Dec. 6.
Moritz Wagner, Franz’s brother and a key bench player, is out for the season due to a torn ACL. Jalen Suggs also left the Magic’s 102-101 win over Brooklyn on Sunday with a right wrist sprain.
These injuries have affected all four of Orlando’s double-digit scorers, but the Magic have still managed to hold onto the best record in their division, ahead of Atlanta and Miami.
“It speaks so much to the resiliency of our guys, the grit of our guys (and) the preparation of the coaching staff,” said coach Jamahl Mosley.
Rookie forward Tristan da Silva has helped fill the gap, averaging 14.3 points over the last seven games, including a team-high 21 points against the Nets.
Suggs is listed as probable for Wednesday, but if he’s out, Cole Anthony and Cory Joseph will likely take over his minutes.
Franz Wagner dribbles in the game
“We have enough — no matter who’s on the floor,” Mosley said. “We know how we’re going to defend. We know how we’re going to communicate. We know how we’re going to keep fighting.”
The Pistons come into this game after a strong 3-1 road trip, with wins over Phoenix, the Los Angeles Lakers, and Sacramento, though they lost to Denver.
That 134-121 defeat didn’t dampen the team’s optimism. The Pistons have already matched their win total from last season.
“The road trip was really good for this group,” said first-year head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
Unlike the Magic, the Pistons have avoided major injuries, allowing Bickerstaff to build a consistent rotation.
Cade Cunningham, who leads the team with 24.0 points, 9.7 assists, and 6.7 rebounds per game, is the key player for Detroit. Though he scored just 17 points against the Nuggets, he averaged 27 points and 11 assists during the Pistons’ three road wins.
“It’s a lot of different things,” said center Jalen Duren. “Obviously a new coaching staff, new leaders in the organization, got some good vets in. Good talent. We’re growing up as a team. Guys who have been here are getting older and more experienced in the league. You put that all together, it’s a recipe for success. Just got to keep going.”
Reserve guard Malik Beasley has been a major contributor, averaging 21.5 points over the last six games and 16.7 points per game for the season. He is a candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.
This is the second of three matchups between the Magic and Pistons. In the first meeting on Nov. 23, the Wagner brothers combined for 48 points in a 111-100 Orlando victory.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 120-112 comeback win over the Pacers on Tuesday.
Brook Lopez added 16 points for Milwaukee, which came back from a 19-point deficit in the second half. Khris Middleton scored 15 points, while Bobby Portis and Gary Trent Jr. each chipped in 14 points.
Benedict Mathurin led Indiana with 25 points, and Pascal Siakam added 20. Tyrese Haliburton struggled, scoring 12 points on 3-of-13 shooting.
The first half was tough for both teams offensively. The Bucks had trouble shooting, and the Pacers struggled with turnovers. Indiana managed to pull ahead at the end of the second quarter, leading 64-53 at halftime. Milwaukee made just 4 of 20 three-pointers in the first half.
Indiana started the second half strong, with a 19-11 run that gave them a 19-point lead, their biggest of the game. However, they went cold, failing to score for over four minutes, which allowed the Bucks to climb back.
After missing his first nine shots, Damian Lillard finally found his rhythm, hitting back-to-back three-pointers that brought the Bucks within three points, 91-88, heading into the fourth quarter.
Giannis Antetokounmpo bites his winning medal after the victory
Milwaukee tied the game at 99 with 7:22 left, thanks to Antetokounmpo stepping up after a slow start. The game remained close until the Bucks finally took the lead at 107-104, their first lead since the opening quarter.
Gary Trent Jr. came through with clutch shooting, hitting two big three-pointers, including one at the shot clock buzzer, to give the Bucks a five-point lead with just under two minutes to go.
Antetokounmpo sealed the win with a jumper and a free throw. He scored 26 of his 30 points in the second half, including 13 in the fourth quarter.
The Bucks are now 2-0 against Indiana this season, with two more games left between the division rivals.
Jayson Tatum scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds on Tuesday as the Boston Celtics dominated the Toronto Raptors 125-71, winning their 10th straight game in the series.
This loss pushed Toronto’s losing streak to 11 games. The Raptors, who had 21 turnovers, have now lost their last five road games and haven’t beaten Boston since the 2021-22 season.
Payton Pritchard came off the bench to score 19 points, shooting 5 of 8 from three-point range.
Derrick White (16 points), Jrue Holiday (14), Jaylen Brown (12), Sam Hauser (12), and Jordan Walsh (10) also reached double figures for Boston, which made 22 of 43 three-point attempts (51.2 percent). No Celtics starter played more than 29 minutes.
Boston entered the game with three losses in their last four matchups.
Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 16 points and 13 rebounds but struggled from beyond the arc, making only 1 of 8 three-point attempts. The Raptors also got nine points from Davion Mitchell, while Jakob Poeltl contributed seven points and 13 rebounds.
The Celtics scored more points in the second half (80) than Toronto scored in the entire game. The Raptors’ 71 points were the lowest of any NBA team this season.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics
Toronto played without R.J. Barrett (illness) and Gradey Dick (hamstring). Kristaps Porzingis, Boston’s third-leading scorer (18.3 points per game), missed his third straight game due to an ankle injury.
Despite missing 10 of their first 11 shots, the Celtics led 23-12 after the first quarter. The Raptors shot just 5 of 23 in the quarter, including 0 for 12 from three-point range.
Toronto got within seven points late in the second quarter but trailed 45-35 at halftime.
Boston then went on a 24-3 run to push the lead to 87-51 late in the third quarter, finishing the period with a 90-53 lead. The Celtics made 10 of their 12 three-point attempts in the third, outscoring Toronto 45-18.
With this win, Boston is now 2-0 against Toronto this season.
The NBA wraps up 2024 with the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers visiting the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday for the final game of the year.
Cleveland enters the game on the second night of a back-to-back and is playing the third game in a four-game Western Conference road trip. On Monday, they dominated Golden State 113-95, limiting the Warriors to just 33-of-99 shooting.
This win was the third time this season the Cavaliers have held an opponent under 100 points, with two of those games happening in the last two weeks. On Dec. 21, they blew out the Philadelphia 76ers 126-99, extending their current seven-game winning streak.
That seven-game run is part of an 11-1 stretch, which has given the Cavaliers their best start in franchise history.
“It’s been a great year. A lot of ups and downs, but we’re in an up right now,” said Cleveland guard Darius Garland, who scored 25 points in Monday’s win. “We’re going to try to keep going up right now. Hope we have a lot more ups going into 2025.”
Meanwhile, the Lakers have won five of their last six games, including a 132-122 win over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 36 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists, while Austin Reaves added 26 points and a career-high 16 assists in the absence of LeBron James, who was out with an illness.
Both James and Davis (who is dealing with a sprained left ankle) are listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game.
Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA)
Rookie Dalton Knecht also had 18 points, marking his second consecutive game in double digits. Knecht had a breakout stretch in November, scoring 37 and 27 points in back-to-back games, but struggled in December, averaging just 4.3 points per game over six contests.
Since their last game, the Lakers made a trade with the Brooklyn Nets, sending D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round picks to Brooklyn in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton.
Russell was averaging 12.4 points per game but was shooting only 41.5% from the floor. Finney-Smith had an average of 10.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in 20 games for Brooklyn, while Milton contributed 7.4 points per game in 27 games, mostly off the bench.
“I’m excited to be back playing meaningful basketball,” said Finney-Smith about the trade. “It’s been awhile, but I’m excited, especially if I can go (vs. Cleveland).”
LeBron James shared his thoughts on the new players: “They bring experience, they bring toughness, and (are) guys who’ve played in big games. They’ve mastered their roles throughout their careers, and I’m looking forward to them getting into our system.”
If the new players are available on Tuesday, their presence could provide the Lakers with additional depth against a Cleveland team that has thrived with strong depth and balance.
Donovan Mitchell (23.6 points per game) and Garland (20.7 points per game) lead a group of six Cavaliers players averaging double digits.
Victor Wembanyama celebrates a basket in the 1st half
The Los Angeles Clippers have a clear plan when they face the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday: focus on stopping the damage caused by San Antonio’s star center, Victor Wembanyama, who continues to impress in the NBA.
The Clippers arrive in San Antonio for the second game of a back-to-back after a 116-113 win in New Orleans on Monday. James Harden hit four crucial free throws in the last 18 seconds to secure the win, with Los Angeles overcoming a 14-point deficit late in the second quarter.
Norman Powell led the team with 35 points, while Harden finished with 27, helping the Clippers win five of their last six games.
Tuesday’s game is the middle of a three-game road trip for Los Angeles, which ends in Oklahoma City on Thursday.
The Clippers won the first meeting with the Spurs this season, 113-104, at home on November 4, with Powell scoring 23 points.
Harden is well aware of the challenge Wembanyama presents. In their last game, Wembanyama put up 24 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and blocked nine shots.
“Beast — on both ends,” Harden said about the second-year French star. “And his shot looks way more confident, he’s shooting it with confidence.
Defensively, he’s active, blocking shots. He’s doing it all. Guys like us are leaving and guys like Wemby are coming in. We thought we’ve never seen certain players before, and then Wemby comes in. Like, come on.”
The Spurs are returning home after a four-game road trip that ended with a 112-110 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.
San Antonio Spurs (NBA)
They lost three of the four games on the trip by a total of 10 points, falling to Philadelphia by five, the Knicks by three, and beating the Brooklyn Nets by nine.
“I think we felt what road NBA basketball looks like against good teams,” said San Antonio acting coach Mitch Johnson. “There are some takeaways that we should feel really good about, and some takeaways that’ll give us much to do, to get back to work when we get back home.”
Wembanyama led the Spurs with 34 points in Minneapolis, marking his eighth game of the season with 30 or more points. It was also the ninth straight game and 21st time in 27 games this season that Wembanyama led the team in scoring.
The Spurs nearly pulled off a comeback against Minnesota, rallying from a 16-point third-quarter deficit to take a 101-98 lead with 6:35 left, but they couldn’t close the game out.
“Our late-game execution is an area of (needed) improvement for us,” said Harrison Barnes, who scored 24 points on Sunday. “We put ourselves in position. We battled for 44, 46 minutes, to give ourselves a chance to win, and then just finishing out games is something that we can get better at.”
Tuesday’s game is one of only two home games for the Spurs in the next two weeks. After a back-to-back with Denver on Friday and Saturday, San Antonio will head out on a road trip to Chicago, Milwaukee, and then Los Angeles for two games against the Lakers.
Los Angeles Kings coach Jim Hiller has learned not to panic when things aren’t going well on the ice.
The Kings have proven they can quickly turn things around, which will be important when they face the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday.
Last weekend, Los Angeles came from behind in the third period to win two home games. They first defeated the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in overtime on Saturday and then won 5-4 against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday.
“I have a lot of trust and faith in the team that they can see it as much as you can see it,” Hiller said. “They’re playing it. They know this isn’t exactly the way it should be going, and it’s just a matter of getting everyone to gather themselves and take a breath. Sometimes it takes longer than others.”
The Kings’ recent comeback was led by 19-year veteran Anze Kopitar, who scored two third-period goals to beat the Flyers after Los Angeles was down by two goals with five minutes left in the second period.
Kopitar has 39 points in 36 games, recording double-digit point totals in every month so far this season.
“It doesn’t feel like I’m getting any younger,” said Kopitar, 37. “The season’s been going pretty well, but as I’ve said before, it’s always about the team. We’re plugging away, we’re racking up points, and I guess we’re in a pretty good spot right now.”
Hiller was especially impressed with Kopitar’s performance on Sunday, considering he spent much of Saturday defending Oilers star Connor McDavid.
“I didn’t think he had great legs the first two periods (against the Flyers), but it doesn’t matter. He is who he is,” Hiller said.
Anze Kopitar hits a goal in the 3rd period
“So you get him out there and good things happen. Both goals, a tip and then one right at the post, he goes to the net, he knows how to score.”
The Devils are coming off two straight regulation losses, something they hadn’t experienced since October.
New Jersey fought back from a 2-0 third-period deficit against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday but gave up the game-winning goal with 3:24 remaining, losing 3-2.
“Marky was great,” Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said about goalie Jacob Markstrom, who made 23 saves against Anaheim but will likely back up Jake Allen in the second game of this back-to-back set. “He deserved two points here (Tuesday), and he should be very upset with his teammates.”
The Devils began their six-game road trip with a 5-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. Keefe expected more from his team after two days of rest before their game against Anaheim.
“The chances we gave up were completely egregious,” he said. “You have no chance to win in the NHL playing like that. It was disgraceful.”
New Jersey faced the Kings on Dec. 12 and won 3-1 after scoring the final three goals. That victory ended a two-game losing streak (0-1-1) and marked the start of a stretch where the Devils won six of seven games, their best run of the season.
Cam Fowler scored two goals in his 1,000th career game as the St. Louis Blues defeated the Blackhawks 6-2 on Tuesday during the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Justin Faulk contributed a goal and two assists, helping the Blues, who are now 3-0-0 in Winter Classic games.
Dylan Holloway and Alexandre Texier each had a goal and an assist in the Blues’ victory, their third in four games, while handing the Blackhawks their fifth consecutive loss. Jordan Binnington made 28 saves for St. Louis.
Taylor Hall and Tyler Bertuzzi scored for Chicago, and Petr Mrazek made 22 saves. The Blackhawks dropped to 0-5-0 in Winter Classic games and 1-6-0 in outdoor games.
Capitals 3, Bruins 1
Washington scored twice in just over five minutes in the first period to beat Boston at home.
Aliaksei Protas scored two goals, with Jakob Chychrun adding the game-winning goal for the Capitals. Tom Wilson had two assists, and Logan Thompson made 26 saves to earn his third consecutive win.
Justin Brazeau scored for the Bruins, and Jeremy Swayman made 24 saves. Boston finished 9-4-1 in December, despite losing two of their last three.
Maple Leafs 3, Islanders 1
Steven Lorentz scored the go-ahead goal in the second period as Toronto defeated New York at home.
David Kampf and John Tavares also scored for the Maple Leafs, who had lost three of their last four games. William Nylander had two assists, and Joseph Woll made 30 saves.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored for the Islanders, who lost three of four games and are set for a home rematch against the Maple Leafs on Thursday. Ilya Sorokin made 22 saves.
Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders
Canadiens 3, Golden Knights 2
Kirby Dach scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period, and Sam Montembeault stopped 27 shots as Montreal came from behind to beat Las Vegas.
Cole Caufield scored his 100th career goal, and Emil Heineman also scored for the Canadiens, who won their third straight game with their first multi-goal comeback of the season.
Zach Whitecloud and Noah Hanifin scored for Vegas, which saw a six-game win streak end. Adin Hill made 19 saves for the Golden Knights, who fell to 15-4-0 at home.
Stars 4, Sabres 2
Jason Robertson scored a goal and added two assists to lead Dallas past Buffalo at home.
Roope Hintz and Esa Lindell also scored, while Thomas Harley recorded two assists. Casey DeSmith made 21 saves for the Stars, who are 3-0-1 in their last four games.
Jason Zucker and Beck Malenstyn scored for the Sabres, who had their three-game win streak snapped. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 29 saves.
Wild 5, Predators 3
Marco Rossi scored twice and added an assist as Minnesota beat Nashville at home.
Mats Zuccarello and Jonas Brodin each had a goal and an assist, and Declan Chisholm also scored. Joel Eriksson Ek had two assists, and Filip Gustavsson made 43 saves on 46 shots.
Colton Sissons, Jonathan Marchessault, and Ryan O’Reilly scored for the Predators, who got two assists from Brady Skjei. Justus Annunen allowed five goals on 38 shots.
Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators
Blue Jackets 4, Hurricanes 3 (SO)
Adam Fantilli scored the shootout winner in the fourth round as Columbus defeated Carolina in a shootout.
Kirill Marchenko scored twice, Dmitri Voronkov had a goal and an assist, and Sean Monahan had three assists for the Blue Jackets. Elvis Merzlikins made 32 saves for his third win in his last four starts.
Ty Smith, Jack Roslovic, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored for Carolina, which fell to 2-3-1 in their last six games. Sebastian Aho had two assists, and Kochetkov stopped 25 shots.
Avalanche 5, Jets 2
Casey Mittelstadt scored the go-ahead goal in the third period as Colorado defeated Winnipeg at home.
Artturi Lehkonen, Devon Toews, Mikko Rantanen, and Ross Colton also scored for the Avalanche, who have now won five straight games. Josh Manson and Jonathan Drouin each had two assists, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 20 saves.
Gabriel Vilardi and Rasmus Kupari scored for the Jets, while Eric Comrie made 33 saves. Winnipeg’s four-game winning streak was snapped.
Red Wings 4, Penguins 2
J.T. Compher scored the go-ahead goal on a power play with 5:34 left to lift Detroit over Pittsburgh at home.
Detroit’s coach Todd McLellan earned his 600th career victory, improving to 2-1-0 as the Red Wings’ coach. Compher and Jonatan Berggren each had a goal and an assist, while Patrick Kane and Dylan Larkin also scored.
Drew O’Connor scored twice for Pittsburgh, and Alex Nedeljkovic made 21 saves.
Oilers 4, Utah 1
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Troy Stecher scored 20 seconds apart in the second period to lead Edmonton to a home win over the Utah Hockey Club.
Mattias Ekholm had a goal and an assist, and Leon Draisaitl also scored. The Oilers improved to 9-1-0 in their last 10 home games. Connor McDavid and Connor Brown each had two assists, and Stuart Skinner stopped 26 shots.
Jack McBain scored for Utah, which lost its fifth straight game. Jaxson Stauber made 34 saves.
Edmonton Oilers and Utah Hockey Club
Ducks 3, Devils 2
Ryan Strome scored the tiebreaking goal with 3:24 remaining, helping Anaheim hold on for a win over New Jersey.
Troy Terry and Robby Fabbri scored earlier for the Ducks, who lost a two-goal lead in the third period before Strome’s late goal. Strome had two points, as did Frank Vatrano (two assists). Lukas Dostal made 32 saves.
Jonas Siegenthaler and Timo Meier scored for the Devils, who lost their second straight game. Jacob Markstrom made 23 saves.
Flames 3, Canucks 1
Nazem Kadri scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, and Jonathan Huberdeau had a goal and an assist to lead Calgary past Vancouver.
Connor Zary also scored for the Flames, who improved to 13-4-3 at home and 4-1-2 in their last seven games. Calgary’s goalie Dustin Wolf made 23 saves, boosting his home record to 10-1-1.
Brock Boeser scored for Vancouver, and Kevin Lankinen made 26 saves for the Canucks, who have struggled with a 1-2-3 record in their last six games.
Flyers 4, Sharks 0
Samuel Ersson and Aleksei Kolosov combined for a shutout as Philadelphia won at San Jose, sending the Sharks to their eighth straight loss.
Ersson made 15 saves before leaving with an undisclosed injury, while Kolosov stopped all seven shots in the third period. Nick Seeler, Ryan Poehling, Travis Konecny, and Egor Zamula each scored for the Flyers. Jamie Drysdale and Bobby Brink had two assists apiece, and Zamula also added an assist.
Alexandar Georgiev made 30 saves for the Sharks, who have now lost eight straight games.
Nazem Kadri scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period, and Jonathan Huberdeau contributed a goal and an assist as the Calgary Flames defeated the Vancouver Canucks 3-1 on Tuesday night.
Connor Zary also scored for Calgary, which improved to 13-4-3 in home games this season and 4-1-2 in its last seven matches. Flames goalie Dustin Wolf made 23 saves, bringing his home record to 10-1-1.
Brock Boeser scored for Vancouver, and Kevin Lankinen made 26 saves in the loss. The Canucks have now lost five of their last six games (1-2-3).
Kadri put Calgary ahead 2-1 at 9:18 of the third period, firing a wrist shot past Lankinen after a pass from Huberdeau. Vancouver pulled Lankinen for an extra attacker with 1:50 left, and Huberdeau sealed the victory with an empty-net goal from center ice with 1:02 remaining.
Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche
Calgary took a 1-0 lead at 14:31 of the first period. Jakob Pelletier’s breakaway attempt was stopped by Lankinen, but Yegor Sharangovich grabbed the rebound and passed it to Zary, who scored into the open net.
The second period was filled with physical play, including three fights and several penalties. At one point, Vancouver had five players in the penalty box, but the Canucks’ penalty kill was strong, including a successful kill of a two-man, five-on-three advantage for Calgary.
Vancouver tied the game 1-1 at 6:15 of the third period when Boeser redirected J.T. Miller’s shot from the point past Wolf.
