Thompson scores twice as Sabres beat Stars 4-1 for 10th straight victory

DALLAS (AP) — Tage Thompson scored twice within 2 1/2 minutes midway through the third period and had an assist as the Buffalo Sabres beat the Dallas Stars 4-1 on Wednesday night to extend their winning streak to 10 games.

That matches both the franchise record and the longest for an NHL team this season, also done by Colorado in November.

Josh Doan and defenseman Bowen Byram each had a goal and an assist for the Sabres. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 28 saves in his third start during the streak, allowing one goal in each game.

Mavrik Bourque scored for the Stars. They are second in the overall NHL standings and had a six-game point streak snapped (4-0-2).

Casey DeSmith stopped 27 shots and lost in regulation for the first time since his first start of the season on Oct. 16. DeSmith went on a franchise-record 13-game point streak (9-0-4).

Byram’s goal with 2:55 left in the second period snapped a 1-1 tie.

Bourque put in a rebound 15 seconds in on the game’s opening shift. Two of Bourque’s six goals this season have come in the last four games.

The Sabres also extended their road winning streak to seven games, the longest in the league this season.

Buffalo hasn't trailed after two periods during the streak, leading eight times and tied twice. Thompson gave the Sabres a two-goal lead at 9:21 of the third period and scored again with 8:25 left, his team-high 20th.

Sabres goalie Alex Lyon, who has earned seven wins during the streak, returned to Buffalo for further evaluation after suffering a lower-body injury late in Monday’s win at St. Louis.

Doan’s score ended his eight-game goalless streak.

Sabres: At Columbus on Saturday.

Stars: At Chicago on Thursday night.

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

Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) slides towards the puck as Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (4) follows during an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, Dallas. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Zach Metsa (73) and Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (24) chase the puck during an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, Dallas. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (1) warms up before an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, Dallas. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (4) and Buffalo Sabres right wing Josh Doan celebrate a goal during an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, Dallas. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (4) celebrates a goal with the bench during an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, Dallas. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — C.J. McCollum made a go-ahead, pull-up jumper with a second remaining to give the Washington Wizards a 114-113 victory over Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.

McCollum's winner capped an 18-point performance. Alex Starr and Bub Carrington each scored 20 points.

Antetokounmpo scored 33 points to lead the Bucks (14-20), who shot 41.1% from the floor and made 16 of 39 from 3-point distance.

Kevin Porter Jr. scored 19 points and Ryan Rollins finished with 16 for Milwaukee, which had won two in a row and was looking for its first three-game win streak of the season.

Kyle Kuzma’s layup in the waning seconds of the third sent the Bucks into the final quarter with an 88-86 lead. Milwaukee turned the ball over four times in the first two minutes of the fourth to fuel a 13-3 Washington run that included three straight 3-pointers from Carrington and put the Wizards ahead 99-91 with 9:56 remaining.

Washington stretched its lead to 10 points before Milwaukee scored seven straight points, including back-to-back buckets from Antetokounmpo to make it a 107-104 game with 6:27 left.

Antetokounmpo came off the floor with 5:14 to play after coming down hard trying to drive through the lane for a layup. Milwaukee came up empty on its next five possessions before he returned with 2:39 remaining and, after having a basket wiped off by a traveling call, fed Rollins for an open 3 that tied the game at 110.

Myles Turner split a pair of free throws to put Milwaukee ahead with 1:15 remaining and Antetokounmpo added a pair to make it a three-point game before the Wizards' final surge.

Wizards: Host Brooklyn on Friday.

Bucks: Host Charlotte on Friday.

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

Milwaukee Bucks' Bobby Portis warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kylie Bridenhagen)

Milwaukee Bucks' Bobby Portis reacts during an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kylie Bridenhagen)

Milwaukee Bucks' Kevin Porter Jr. drives to the basket between Washington Wizards' AJ Johnson and Marvin Bagley III during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kylie Bridenhagen)

Milwaukee Bucks' Gary Harris drives to the basket between Washington Wizards' Bub Carrington and Justin Champagnie during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kylie Bridenhagen)