Ryan O'Reilly's 2 goals and an assist help the Predators surprise the Stars 4-1

DALLAS (AP) — Ryan O’Reilly scored two of three Nashville goals within a three-minute span midway through the second period as the Predators snapped an eight-game losing streak that tied a franchise record and beat the Dallas Stars 4-1 on Thursday night.

O’Reilly also assisted on Zachary L’Heureux’s empty-net goal. Tommy Novak scored for the Predators, whose eight wins this season are the fewest in the NHL.

Justus Annunen made 37 saves for his first win in two starts with Nashville after being acquired Nov. 30 from the Colorado Avalanche.

Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel scored in his NHL debut for Dallas, which had a four-game home winning streak snapped. Jake Oettinger stopped 22 shots, losing at American Airlines Center for the first time in 11 starts this season.

O’Reilly has scored in three of his last five games. He missed Nashville’s previous three games with a lower-body injury.

The Predators had two goals disallowed following Stars challenges, in the first period for offside and in the third period for goaltender interference.

Nashville rookie defenseman Adam Wilsby had an assist for his first NHL point.

Predators: They came up big on defense despite veteran blueliner Roman Josi, the team's captain and leading scorer, missing his first game since March 19, 2023. Josi is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Stars: Their two losses in 13 home games are to the last-place teams in the Central and Pacific Divisions (Nashville and Anaheim).

Jonathan Marchessault won a puck battle from Nils Lundkvist behind the Dallas net and fed O’Reilly at the crease to break a scoreless tie.

The Predators are 5-1-1 when leading after two periods.

Predators: Play at Colorado on Saturday night.

Stars: Host the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night in the third game of a six-game homestand that marks their longest of the season.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley (55) keeps Nashville Predators center Colton Sissons from the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Nashville Predators center Tommy Novak (82) scores a goal against Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) and defenseman Thomas Harley (55) in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Nashville Predators right wing Michael McCarron (47) and Dallas Stars center Oskar Bäck (10) face off for control of the puck in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Nashville Predators defenseman Marc Del Gaizo (7) and Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) skate for control of the puck in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Nashville Predators defenseman Luke Schenn (2) skates after the puck in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) and Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston (53) skate for control of the puck in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Dallas Stars center Oskar Bäck (10) moves the puck against Nashville Predators center Tommy Novak (82) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) defends the goal against Nashville Predators center Tommy Novak (82) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Nashville Predators goaltender Justus Annunen (29) defends the goal in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) celebrates his goal with teammate Marc Del Gaizo (7) in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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)