Reijnders shines through the fog at San Siro as Milan beats Empoli

MILAN (AP) — Tijjani Reijnders scored twice and helped AC Milan get back to winning ways in Serie A by 3-0 against visiting Empoli on Saturday.

The Netherlands midfielder netted either side of halftime at a foggy San Siro after Álvaro Morata opened the scoring.

Milan remained seventh, six points behind Atalanta, Inter Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio — who are all locked on 28 points — and seven below league leader Napoli.

Empoli was 10th but only five points above the relegation zone.

In its last home match, Milan was heavily jeered by its fans after drawing with Juventus 0-0.

The Rossoneri took the lead in the 19th minute. Rafael Leão’s shot was blocked by Empoli defender Ardian Ismajli but ricocheted into the path of Morata on the left of the area and he volleyed into the bottom near corner.

Milan doubled its tally on the stroke of halftime when a cross was flicked on by Christian Pulisic and fell to Reijnders, who smashed it into the bottom left corner on the half volley.

Empoli started the second half the stronger and almost pulled one back but Youssef Maleh’s effort cannoned off the crossbar.

Reijnders' second effectively sealed the result in the 69th. He latched onto a Youssouf Fofana through ball in midfield, raced forward, and fired past Empoli goalkeeper Devis Vásquez, who was on loan from Milan.

Como and Monza remain mired in the relegation zone after their hard-fought derby finished 1-1.

Como inched level on points with 17th-placed Genoa, with Monza a point further back.

Yannik Engelhardt headed Como in front in the 36th and Gianluca Caprari levelled from the spot early in the second half after Nico Paz was penalised for handball.

Venezia stayed bottom after a fourth straight defeat, this time 3-0 at Bologna. Dan Ndoye scored twice for Bologna, including a penalty, and Riccardo Orsolini also converted a spot kick.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Bologna's Dan Ndoye celebrates after scoring the 1-0 goal for his team during the Serie A soccer match between Bologna and Venezia at Renato Dall'Ara Stadium in Bologna, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

AC Monza's Gianluca Caprari celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Monza at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como, Italy, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

Como 1907's Yannik Engelhardt celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Monza at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como, Italy, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

AC Milan's head coach Paulo Fonseca gives instructions during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

A thick fog shrouds the pitch during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

AC Milan's Alvaro Morata scores his side's opening goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

AC Milan's Alvaro Morata, left, celebrates with his teammate Youssouf Fofana after scoring his side's opening goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders celebrates with Alvaro Morata, top left, and Youssouf Fofana after scoring his side's third goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders celebrates scoring his side's third goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Empoli, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn't scoring the way he usually does, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are still winning the way they normally do.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, averaged 31.1 points during the regular season. In the Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers, he is averaging 20 points and taking only 14 shots per game.

Oklahoma City has still won the first two games by an average of 18 points. Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren each scored 22 points, and the defending champion Thunder beat the Lakers 125-107 on Thursday night.

Ajay Mitchell, starting in place of injured Jalen Williams, is averaging 19 points on 50% shooting in the series for Oklahoma City.

“I think the coaching staff does a good job at just getting all of us ready,” said Mitchell, a second-year guard. "And we have a lot of competitors. Like, everyone’s a competitor on our team. So every time the lights are bright, everyone’s ready to go.”

Holmgren is the leading scorer for the Thunder in the best-of-seven series with 23 points per game. The 2026 All-Star also is averaging 10.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.

Jared McCain, a midseason acquisition from the Philadelphia 76ers, barely played in the first round against Phoenix but has averaged 15 points and made 8 of 10 3-pointers in the series.

“He goes in there, stays in character, stays aggressive," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "He’s going to shoot the next shot. He makes the right plays, plays inside the team. He competes defensively, has had good defensive possessions for us. And he was huge tonight. You need that in a playoff series.”

The Lakers again were without scoring champion Luka Doncic, who is out indefinitely with a strained left hamstring. They also were missing forward Jarred Vanderbilt, the reserve forward who dislocated the pinkie on his right hand during the second quarter of Game 1. The Lakers had three players finish with five fouls, limiting their aggressiveness late in the game.

Los Angeles guard Austin Reaves, who struggled with his shot in Game 1, scored 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting in Game 2. LeBron James, coming off a 27-point effort in Game 1, followed that up with 23.

With the Lakers up 63-61 early in the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander got tied up with Reaves and was called for his fourth foul. Upon review, it was upgraded to a flagrant 1 for Gilgeous-Alexander's follow through. Oklahoma City's Alex Caruso was called for a technical foul as the situation was being sorted out.

Gilgeous-Alexander left the game with the Lakers up 65-61, but the Thunder rallied and took control without him. On a fast break, Holmgren found a trailing Jaylin Williams, who hit a 3-pointer and was fouled. His free throw put the Thunder up 85-74.

The Thunder outscored the Lakers 32-15 while Gilgeous-Alexander was out in the third quarter to take a 93-80 lead into the fourth.

“It was amazing," Gilgeous-Alexander said. “They strung together stops, they’re playing the right way offensively and things are going their way. Full confidence in those guys. They know how to win basketball games. And we've proven that. They’ve proven that no matter who’s on the floor, they know how to get the job done. And they just did it again tonight."

The Lakers cut Oklahoma City's lead to five in the fourth quarter before the Thunder pulled away again.

Los Angeles will host Game 3 on Saturday.

“We just stuck with it,” Holmgren said. “It’s the game of basketball. It’s not always going to go your way. It’s about how you respond. And this team has proven many times that we know how to respond. And we did so tonight.”

This story has been corrected to show that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 20, not 19, points per game against the Lakers.

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

Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren (7) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves (15) in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell, front, works for a shot as Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves, rear, defends in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James stands on the court in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket past Los Angeles Lakers' Deandre Ayton (5) and LeBron James, rear, in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) works to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)