Kurashev scores 1:48 into OT, Sharks beat Avalanche 3-2

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Philipp Kurashev scored his second goal of the game 1:48 into overtime, and the San Jose Sharks beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Saturday.

Kurashev took a pass at the Colorado blue line, skated to the right circle and beat Mackenzie Blackwood with a wrister over the left shoulder.

San Jose’s 19-year-old star Macklin Celebrini scored his seventh goal of the season and Yaroslav Askarov stopped 36 shots.

Blackwood made 20 saves in his season debut for the Avalanche. He missed the first 12 games after having offseason surgery on a lower-body injury and didn’t face his first shot until midway through the first period.

Colorado remained winless in five games decided after regulation despite outshooting the Sharks 38-23.

Martin Necas and Nathan MacKinnon scored for the Avalanche, who earned three of a possible four points in their second back-to-back set of the season.

Necas gave Colorado the lead 30 seconds in, the second straight day he scored in the first minute, and Celebrini tied it with 1:39 left in the first period.

The Sharks took the lead on Kurashev’s fourth goal 4:07 into the second but MacKinnon tied it later in the period on an awarded goal.

On the play, MacKinnon came in alone on Askarov, who made the initial save on the backhander. The puck sat in the crease behind Askarov and just before MacKinnon tapped it over the goal line right after the Sharks' Jeff Skinner crashed into the right post and knocked the net off of its moorings.

MacKinnon was awarded the goal after a league review, his league-leading 10th of the season.

Taylor Makar, brother of Cale Makar, made his NHL debut. It is the first time since the franchise relocated to Colorado that brothers have played in the same game for the Avalanche.

Sharks: Host Detroit on Sunday night.

Avalanche: Host Tampa Bay on Tuesday night.

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

Colorado Avalanche center Martin Necas (88) is congratulated by teammates after scoring against the San Jose Sharks during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

San Jose Sharks left wing William Eklund (72) reaches for the puck in front of Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, right, defends against a shot next to San Jose Sharks center Alexander Wennberg (21) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

San Jose Sharks center Philipp Kurashev (96) celebrates after scoring the winning goal during overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

San Jose Sharks center Philipp Kurashev (96) watches his shot score past Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (39) and defenseman Cale Makar (8) during overtime of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

TORONTO (AP) — Scottie Barnes hit the go-ahead free throws in the final minute and finished with 23 points, Brandon Ingram also scored 23 and the Toronto Raptors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 93-89 on Sunday, tying the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series at two games apiece.

The best-of-seven series shifts to Cleveland for Game 5 on Wednesday.

“Now it’s a best of three,” Cavaliers guard James Harden said.

RJ Barrett scored 18 points and Collin Murray-Boyles had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Raptors, who won despite shooting 4 for 30 from 3-point range.

“We’re just trying to go out there and win, take it one possession at a time,” Barnes said. “That’s all we’re focussing on.”

Barnes had nine rebounds and six assists as Toronto won back-to-back postseason games for the first time since a first-round loss to Philadelphia in 2022.

“We just never, never flinched,” Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said. “We continued guarding and guarding.”

Donovan Mitchell scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and Harden added 19, but the Cavaliers couldn’t overcome an 18-turnover performance.

“There’s no doubt they’ve had the physicality advantage, the energy advantage these last two games,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said of Toronto. “Usually happens with the home team, gets that bump. We’ve got to turn it back around. That’s how the playoffs go.”

Mitchell missed two shots in the final 25 seconds, including a 3-pointer that would have tied the game. He finished 6 for 24 overall and made 4 of 12 shots from deep.

“I got some open looks tonight and they just didn’t fall,” Mitchell said.

Sam Merrill scored 14 points and Jarrett Allen had 15 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who were outscored 10-2 in the final 1:54 of the fourth.

“We had an opportunity tonight to win the game,” Harden said. “We’re definitely confident about where we are.”

After Barrett’s driving shot cut the deficit to 87-86 with 49 seconds left in the fourth, Mitchell couldn’t get the ball across half court in time, giving possession to Toronto.

“I made a mistake in a crucial moment,” Mitchell said.

Barnes was fouled as he drove to the basket and made both, giving the Raptors an 88-87 lead with 34 seconds left.

With NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in attendance, both teams struggled from 3-point range. Cleveland finished 10 for 40 from deep, including 5 of 10 in the fourth.

The Raptors missed 14 consecutive 3-point attempts to open the game before Barrett connected with 8:31 left in the first half.

Ingram missed nine of his first 10 attempts but finished the half by making three straight, including a buzzer-beating 3 that gave Toronto a 38-36 lead at the intermission.

Harden had more turnovers (six) than made baskets (four) in the opening half, while Mitchell shot 3 for 15 through three quarters.

“Our defense gave us a chance,” Mitchell said. “Offensively, I wasn’t great. We weren’t hitting shots but our defense was solid. We can build on that and continue to hang our hat there and the offense will come around.”

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

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) tries to move around Toronto Raptors guard Ja'kobe Walter, right, during the first half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series in Toronto, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles (12) dunks as Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) watches during the first half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series in Toronto, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) tries to get around Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, right, during the first half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series in Toronto, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Fans react after Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram, front, made a 3-point basket in the final minutes of the first half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Toronto, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) reacts after making a basket as Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) looks on during the first half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series in Toronto, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)