Zayne Parekh scores twice and Canada tops Czechia this time around at World Juniors

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Zayne Parekh scored twice, Canada had four goals in the third period and the Canadians defeated Czechia 7-5 on Friday night at the World Junior Championships.

Canada, the 20-time champion, is looking to return to the podium after being eliminated by Czechia in the quarterfinals in each of the past two tournaments. Czechia took the bronze both times.

There were three goals in the first 6 1/2 minutes of an explosive third period capped by Tij Iginla's goal that gave Canada a 5-4 lead. Ethan MacKenzie's goal a few minutes later made it 6-4 for the Canadians.

Tomas Galvas scored for Czechia with 4 1/2 minutes left in the game and Porter Martone found the empty net for Canada to wrap up the scoring.

Czechia outshot Canada 33-27.

Carter George stooped 28 shots for Canada and Michal Orsulak had 20 saves for Czechia.

Martin Brady's goal nearly 14 minutes into the first period gave Canada a 1-0 lead. Brady took a centering pass from Gavin McKenna near the front of the crease and beat Orsulak to his left side.

Thomas Poletin tied it for Czechia at 17:01 but it took Canada just 37 seconds to go back ahead, 2-1, on a goal by Michael Hage.

Vojtech Cihar tied it at 2-2 early in the second period and Petr Sikora's goal after 12 minutes of the second period gave Czechia its first lead, 3-2. Canada's Parekh tied it up three minutes before the end of the period when he fired from behind the right circle after taking a pass from Cameron Reid.

Canada plays Latvia on Saturday and Czechia faces Denmark, also on Saturday.

Canada goaltender Carter George makes a save on Czechia's Petr Sikora while Canada's Ethan MacKenzie, right, defends, during the first period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship game in Minneapolis, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's Tij Iginla (11) attacks the net defended by Czechia goaltender Michal Orsulak (30) during second-period IIHF World Junior Championship hockey game action in Minneapolis, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Czechia's Tomas Poletin (18), center, celebrates his goal with teammates during the first period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship game against Canada in Minneapolis, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's Michael Misa, front left, attacks Czechia goaltender Michal Orsulak (30) while Canada's Porter Martone (22) stands in front of the net during second-period IIHF World Junior Championship hockey game action in Minneapolis, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's Harrison Brunicke (4) shoots against Czechia's net during second-period IIHF World Junior Championship hockey game action in Minneapolis, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Devin Booker scored 30 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 115-108 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night in the opener of a two-game series.

The Suns trailed 100-97 after Zion Williamson hit a free throw with 4:58 left, but the Suns closed out New Orleans by outscoring the Pelicans 18-8 the rest of the way. Booker started the surge with two free throws, and Mark Williams then made four consecutive free throws and a dunk off an alley-oop feed from Booker. Williams finished with 24 points, including 10 in the final period, and 13 rebounds.

Williamson led the Pelicans with 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Jordan Poole and Trey Murphy III had 19 points apiece. But the Pelicans hurt themselves with an abysmal night from the foul line, going 25 of 42.

The teams play again Saturday in New Orleans.

Williamson's layup with 1:51 left cut the Suns’ lead to 107-106, but Phoenix iced the game with a 15-foot jumper by Collin Gillespie that started a five-point run in a 35-second span.

Despite shaky outside shooting – just 5 of 24 from long range – the Suns built a 53-48 halftime lead on the power of their rebounding. Phoenix outrebounded New Orleans 31-23 in the first half, including a 12-6 advantage on the offensive boards that led to a 17-6 edge in second-chance points.

Rasheer Fleming came off the bench in the second quarter with three layups in an 11-2 spurt to give the Suns a 44-37 lead. Poole kept the Pelicans close with 11 first-half points that included a pair of 25-footers and a four-point play.

The Pelicans missed seven free throws in the third quarter but still managed to close the deficit to 81-80 entering the final period.

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Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, center, tries to make a move against New Orleans Pelicans forward Karlo Matkovic (17) and guard Jeremiah Fears (0) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Peter Forest)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Poole (3) shoots a 3-point basket in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Peter Forest)

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) shoots a 3-point basket in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Peter Forest)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Poole, center left, goes up to shoots a layup against Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Peter Forest)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots a jumper over New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III, center left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Peter Forest)