Rantanen has goal and 2 assists as Stars beat Sharks 4-1 to extend point streak to nine games

DALLAS (AP) — Mikko Rantanen had a goal and two assists, and the Dallas Stars scored three times in the third period to beat the San Jose Sharks 4-1 on Friday night.

Jason Robertson, Sam Steel and Miro Heiskanen also scored and Wyatt Johnston had two assists for Dallas, which won its second straight and extended its point streak to nine games (7-0-2). Jake Oettinger finished with 16 saves.

Colin Graf scored for San Jose, which lost its second straight. Yaroslav Askarov had 20 saves.

Steel put the Stars ahead 2-1 with 9:04 remaining as he pushed in the rebound of his own shot. Askarov made the stop on his initial attempt from the right circle, but the puck was loose on the left side. As the goalie tried to gather it, Steel rushed in and knocked it through Askarov's pads.

Rantanen pushed it to 3-1 as he beat Askarov over his glove hand from the right circle with 3:21 to go for his 13th goal of the season.

Macklin Celebrini appeared to pull the Sharks back within one with 2:44 remaining, but the goal was overturned on review after a challenge for offside.

Heiskanen sealed it with a long empty-netter 25 seconds later.

Robertson gave the Stars a 1-0 lead with 5:40 left in the first as he knocked in a rebound into an open net from the left side. Askarov made the stop on Wyatt Johnston’s one-timer from the slot, but the puck went up and off the crossbar and dropped on the ice on the left side, where Robertson gathered it and backhanded it in for his 18th.

Graf tied it 1-1 as he scored 8:23 into the second on a rebound after Nick Leddy's shot was blocked in front. It came on the Sharks' fifth shot on goal of the game.

Sharks: At Carolina on Sunday.

Stars: Host Pittsburgh on Sunday.

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

San Jose Sharks right wing Collin Graf (51) scores against Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) and defenseman Miro Heiskanen (4) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (4) takes control of the puck as San Jose Sharks center Will Smith (2) skates up during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

San Jose Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov (30) defends against Dallas Stars center Sam Steel (18) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) celebrates his goal with teammates Vladislav Kolyachonok (44) and Sam Steel (18) as San Jose Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov (30) sits nearby during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

CHICAGO (AP) — Pascal Siakam scored a season-high 36 points, Bennedict Mathurin added 28 and the Indiana Pacers beat the struggling Chicago Bulls 120-105 on Friday night.

The Pacers improved to 5-18, looking more like the team that advanced to the NBA Finals last season than the injury-ravaged crew that began the night with the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference. They went on a big run early in the third quarter and withstood a big push by Chicago in picking up their first win in 11 road games this season.

Siakam heated up after a scoreless first quarter. The three-time All-Star made five 3-pointers and grabbed nine rebounds. Mathurin hit six 3s.

Andrew Nembhard added 15 points and seven assists. Jay Huff had five blocks, helping the Pacers beat Chicago for the second time in seven days. They won 103-101 in Indianapolis on Saturday, when Siakam sank a 14-foot jumper with a second left.

The Bulls (9-13) lost their season-high sixth straight. They are 3-12 after winning six of their first seven games.

Coby White scored 22 after sitting out the previous three games because of a strained left calf. Matas Buzelis had 19 points and 12 rebounds. But the Bulls committed 19 turnovers.

Siakam scored 14 points in the second quarter as the Pacers grabbed a 62-57 halftime lead. He keyed a 20-6 run to start the third, scoring nine points.

Pacers: Host Sacramento on Monday night.

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

Indiana Pacers center Jay Huff (32), right, defends Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan yells to his team during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle yells to his team during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Bulls forward Zach Collins (12) sinks a three-point shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) handles the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)