Schroder, Watford score 19 apiece, Nets beat Raptors 96-88 to snap 6-game skid

TORONTO (AP) — Dennis Schroder scored 19 points against his former team, Trendon Watford had 11 of his season-high 19 points in the second quarter and the Brooklyn Nets snapped a six-game losing streak by beating the short-handed Toronto Raptors 96-88 on Monday night.

Mikal Bridges scored 13 points and Jalen Wilson added 12 as the Nets outscored Toronto 28-19 in the fourth quarter to help Brooklyn win for the first time since March 10 at Cleveland.

“When it got down to crunch time, we just took care of the ball and executed,” Watford said.

Brooklyn coach Kevin Ollie said the Nets, who were staying over in Toronto, planned to celebrate with a late meal at an upscale Italian restaurant on Monday night before flying to Washington on Tuesday for Wednesday’s game against the Wizards.

“I told these guys it’s hard to win in the NBA,” Ollie said. “We’re going to get a nice team dinner. The wine is going to taste a little bit better.”

Gary Trent Jr. scored 18 points and Javon Freeman-Liberty had 15 for Toronto. The Raptors have lost 11 straight and are winless since a home victory over Charlotte on March 3.

Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) vies for the loose ball with Toronto Raptors' Kobi Simmons during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Monday, March 25, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Among Toronto’s seven absent players was center Jontay Porter. The NBA has opened an investigation into Porter amid gambling allegations, a league spokesman and Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic confirmed Monday night.

Rajakovic said he learned the news about Porter shortly before the game and did not speak to his players about it.

“We were focused on basketball, we were focused on the game,” Rajakovic said. “Nobody wants that kind of situation to happen to anybody, to any team. We’re just going to deal with it.”

Porter’s locker was empty ahead of Monday’s game, although his nameplate was still in place.

Nic Claxton had 16 rebounds for Brooklyn, one shy of his career high. The Nets outrebounded Toronto 50-30, including a 16-8 edge on offensive rebounds.

“Nic really attached the backboards and got us some extra possessions, which was huge because we had 20 turnovers,” Ollie said.

Guard Cam Thomas, who led the Nets with 19 points in Saturday’s loss to the Knicks, was scratched after experiencing back spasms during the pre-game warm up. Also, forward Cameron Johnson was absent because of a sprained right big toe.

Ollie said he didn’t know whether Thomas would be ready to return Wednesday.

Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton, top, vies for control of the ball with Toronto Raptors forward Garrett Temple (17) and Bruce Brown (11) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Monday, March 25, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Nets guard Dennis Smith Jr. was not available because of a sore right hip, while forward Keita Bates-Diop sat because of a sore right shin.

For the second straight game, Toronto played without four regular starters, with only Trent available. All-Star Scottie Barnes (left hand) and center Jakob Poeltl (left pinkie) remain injured. RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley rejoined the team Monday after being away for personal reasons. The pair watched from the bench Monday, but they remain sidelined for return to competition reconditioning.

Earlier Monday, Toronto signed guard Kobi Simmons to a 10-day contract. Simmons scored seven points in 17 minutes.

The Raptors had 23 assists Monday, giving them a single-season franchise record of 2,086. Toronto, which has 10 games remaining, had 2,085 assists in 2018-19.

UP NEXT

Nets: At the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

Raptors: Host the New York Knicks on Wednesday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic expresses his displeasure with officials during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets in Toronto, Monday, March 25, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. (33) drives to the net over Brooklyn Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith (28) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Monday, March 25, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Brooklyn Nets guard Lonnie Walker IV, left, bumps Toronto Raptors guard Javon Freeman-Liberty (0) off the ball as teammate Ochai Agbaji (30) looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Monday, March 25, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors guard Gradey Dick (1) drives to the net as Brooklyn Nets guard Dennis Schroder (17) defends while Raptors' Bruce Brown (11) looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Monday, March 25, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Brooklyn Nets guard Dennis Schroder (17) drives to the net past Toronto Raptors guard Ochai Agbaji (30) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Monday, March 25, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors guard Gradey Dick (1) drives to the net as Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Monday, March 25, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr., center, reaches for a loose ball under pressure from Brooklyn Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith (28) and teammate Mikal Bridges (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Monday, March 25, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors guard Ochai Agbaji (30) drives to the net as Brooklyn Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith (28) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Monday, March 25, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors guard Javon Freeman-Liberty (0) dunks the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets in Toronto, Monday, March 25, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. (33) drives to the net under pressure from Brooklyn Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith (28) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Monday, March 25, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Edmonton's Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl continue to cause Los Angeles nightmares. As if that isn't enough, the rest of the Oilers' lineup is beginning to add to the Kings' frustrations.

McDavid and Draisaitl had three-point nights on Friday, but Zach Hyman continued his hot streak at the start of the postseason with two goals as the Oilers rode the momentum of three first-period scores to a 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round NHL playoffs series.

“Anytime you get up on a ream that's defensive and doesn't give you much makes it easier on you,” said Hyman, who has a league-leading six postseason goals and seven points. “You don't have to force it in, you can play your game and they have to change and open things up. We did a good job of that.”

Game 4 in the best-of-seven series is Sunday night.

Hyman, who had a hat trick in Edmonton’s 7-4 Game 1 victory on Monday, became the third player in the past 25 years to score in Edmonton’s first three postseason games when he put in a rebound 6:42 into the first.

The left wing then extended it to 5-1 six minutes into third when the Oilers had a two-man advantage.

Draisaitl also had two goals along with an assist. He became the fastest player in NHL history to reach 20 career road playoff goals on a wrist shot from a tight angle just inside the left faceoff circle with 4:24 remaining in the first to make it 2-0. Draisaitl reached the milestone in 26 games, three quicker than Kevin Stevens and Bernie Nicholls.

Draisaitl also had a power-play goal midway through the third.

“I think our guys were disciplined on entering into the offensive zone. We had a plan and executed it. It wasn't just one or two guys, it was five guys who were committed and connected,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said.

McDavid got his first goal of the postseason late in the first period on the power play to give the Oilers a 3-0 advantage. With two assists, he became the first player since Wayne Gretzky in 1987 to have at least eight assists in the first three games. Gretzky had nine in 1987 and eight in 1981.

It was one of three power-play goals for Edmonton, which is 7 for 15 in the series.

“I thought we did a lot of good things. Special teams were great, Stuart (Skinner) was a rock back there. A lot of positives but it just counts as one win,” McDavid said.

Evander Kane added a goal and an assist. He also picked up a rare postseason Gordie Howe hat trick with a 10-minute misconduct penalty in the third period when the game got chippy.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins added three assists and Skinner stopped 27 shots as the Oilers posted a Game 3 rout on the Kings’ home ice for the second time in three years.

Drew Doughty had the Kings’ lone goal early in the second period and Cam Talbot made 35 saves.

Doughty's goal, his second of the postseason, got the Kings to 3-1 at 5:32 of the second, but Kane returned momentum back to the Oilers two minutes later with a tip-in of Cody Ceci's shot from the point.

"I mean, we got better. Second period, we had that goal, but they scored right after," forward Kevin Fiala said. "We have to look at some things, we have to get better, and we will. So we have to get second game and that’s it.”

Kings interim coach Jim Hiller pointed to his team's lack of forechecking early as a reason why they fell behind early.

“Their power play scored, ours didn't. It's 2-1 and let's get ready for the next one,” he said.

Kings captain Anze Kopitar played in his 95th career playoff game, passing Luc Robitaille for most in franchise history.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Andreas Englund, left, and Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane fight during the third period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman, center, celebrates his goal with center Connor McDavid, left, and center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins during the third period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl, right, celebrates his goal as center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins skates behind during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane, right, celebrates his goal as Los Angeles Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, left, and center Anze Kopitar look on during the second period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, left, scores on Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner during the second period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, right, celebrates his goal with center Anze Kopitar, center, as Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner, second from right, looks on during the second period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, right, celebrates his goal with left wing Zach Hyman, second from right, as Los Angeles Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, center, kneels in goal while defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, left, and center Blake Lizotte watch during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Brett Kulak, left, reaches for the puck along with Los Angeles Kings right wing Viktor Arvidsson during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Vincent Desharnais, right, passes the puck while under pressure from Los Angeles Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson aduring Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman, left, celebrates his goal as center Connor McDavid follows during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, center, is scored on by Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman, right, as defenseman Mikey Anderson defends during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, right, deflects a shot by Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman before Hyman scored on the rebound during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)