Parker Kelly scores 2 as Avalanche beat Flames 4-2 to move to 7-0-1 in last 8 games

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Parker Kelly scored twice and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Calgary Flames 4-2 on Friday night.

Ryan Lindgren and Valeri Nichushkin also scored for Colorado, which has points in eight straight (7-0-1). The Avalanche moved within three points of the Dallas Stars for second place in the Central Division. Scott Wedgewood had 22 saves.

Blake Coleman and Jonathan Huberdeau scored for Calgary, which lost in regulation for the first time in six games (2-1-3). The Flames remain tied with Vancouver for the second wild card in the Western Conference. Dustin Wolf had 24 saves.

Lindgren scored with 6:39 left in the first and Kelly made it 2-0 with 4:36 left in the second.

Coleman got the Flames on the scoreboard at 3:08 of the third, but Kelly made it 3-1 at 5:55 for his second career two-goal game.

Huberdeau's power-play goal pulled the Flames back within one with 3:38 to go, but Nichushkin sealed the win with an empty-netter with 1:39 remaining.

Avalanche: Lindgren snapped a 28-game goal-scoring drought, and Kelly had not scored in his last 20 games.

Flames: Captain Mikael Backlund (upper body) did not play, snapping a 328-game iron man streak. W

After Coleman’s first goal in 15 games drew the Flames back within one early in the third, Calgary built momentum and nearly tied it on multiple occasions before Kelly restored the two-goal cushion at 5:55. He converted a pass from Ross Colton after MacKenzie Weegar turned the puck over behind the Flames' net.

The Avalanche lead the NHL with 92 goals in the third period.

Avalanche host Dallas on Sunday, and Flames visit Toronto on Monday to open a four-game trip.

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

Colorado Avalanche's Jack Drury, left, checks Calgary Flames' MacKenzie Weegar during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, March 14, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche goalie Scott Wedgewood, right, ducks as the net topples forward as Devon Toews, center, checks Calgary Flames' Rasmus Andersson during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, March 14, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche's Logan O'Connor, right, and Calgary Flames' Ryan Lomberg, left, chase the puck during second-period NHL hockey game action in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, March 14, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche's Jack Drury, right, checks Calgary Flames' Ryan Lomberg, left, during first-period NHL hockey game action in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, March 14, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche's Parker Kelly, right, is checked by Calgary Flames' Kevin Bahl, center, as goalie Dustin Wolf follows the play during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, March 14, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche's Ross Colton (20) is checked by Calgary Flames' Yegor Sharangovich (17) during first-period NHL hockey game action in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, March 14, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin, second from right, and Calgary Flames' Kevin Bahl, right, battle for position in front of Flames goalie Dustin Wolf, left, during second-period NHL hockey game action in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, March 14, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin, right, is checked by Calgary Flames' Martin Pospisil, left, during third-period NHL hockey game action in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, March 14, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche's Parker Kelly, left, celebrates his goal with teammate Ross Colton during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, March 14, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo blocked a shot by LeBron James and stole the ball from him on consecutive possessions in the final minute, and the Milwaukee Bucks blew a fourth-quarter lead before rallying for a 105-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

Kevin Porter Jr. scored 22 points, and he hit two free throws to break a tie after Antetokounmpo blocked a driving layup attempt by James with 39 seconds left.

Antetokounmpo then knocked the ball out of James' hands from behind with 2 seconds left, and Porter hit two more free throws to seal Milwaukee's fifth win in seven games — its first over a team with a winning record since Dec. 11. Antetokounmpo finished with 21 points in his lowest-scoring effort since returning from his right calf strain.

Luka Doncic had 24 points and nine assists on 8-of-25 shooting for the Lakers. He had his lowest-scoring performance since Christmas, and he fouled out on Porter's 3-point attempt with 16.2 seconds to play.

James had 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, but Antetokoumpo got the best of the top scorer in NBA history at crunch time. Los Angeles has lost six of 10.

Milwaukee surged to a double-digit lead in the first half even with Antetokounmpo on a minutes restriction in his injury return. Doncic scored 12 points in the third quarter but also committed four fouls in the period, including his fifth of the game.

Los Angeles abruptly erased its deficit by going on a 17-4 run to open the fourth, with James putting the Lakers ahead when he stole the ball from Antetokounmpo for a layup with 6:02 left. Milwaukee missed nine of its first 12 shots in the period, but Porter's layup tied it with two minutes left.

Lakers starters Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura remain sidelined by injury, but Hachimura (calf) might return early next week from his six-game absence, coach JJ Redick said.

Bucks: At Denver on Sunday.

Lakers: At Sacramento on Monday.

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

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart, left, tries to shoot as Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, and Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)