Cirelli, Goncalves key Lightning's 3rd-period comeback for their 6th straight win, 5-3 over LA Kings

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Gage Goncalves scored the tiebreaking goal with 1:41 to play, and the Tampa Bay Lightning rallied from a late deficit to beat the Los Angeles Kings 5-3 on Thursday night for their sixth consecutive victory.

Anthony Cirelli scored the tying goal with 3:19 left in regulation for the Lightning, who fell behind early in the third period on Kevin Fiala's power-play goal.

Cirelli crashed the net and pushed home his 11th goal on a play set up by Brandon Hagel and Nikita Kucherov. Moments later, Cirelli and Goncalves drove the net again, and Goncalves eventually converted a behind-the-net pass from Jake Guentzel for his fourth goal.

Brayden Point had his first two-goal game of the season and Kucherov capped a three-point night by putting his 19th goal into an empty net for the Lightning, who have won back-to-back games to begin their three-game California road trip. Point also scored in Tampa Bay's 4-3 overtime victory at Anaheim on Wednesday.

Jonas Johansson stopped 17 shots for Tampa Bay, which hasn't lost since Dec. 18.

Fiala and Andrei Kuzmenko had a goal and an assist apiece on the power play for the Kings, who collapsed late in their eighth loss in 10 games despite scoring multiple man-advantage goals for the first time all season. Los Angeles entered the night with the NHL's worst power play, scoring on just 14.4% of its chances.

Corey Perry had his first three-assist game since November 2019, setting up both power-play goals and giving him 499 career assists.

Jeff Malott also scored, and Darcy Kuemper returned from injury to make 18 saves in the Canadian Olympic team selection's first appearance since Dec. 15.

Lightning: At San Jose on Saturday.

Kings: Host Minnesota on Saturday.

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

Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21), Lightning center Gage Goncalves and Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh (43) celebrate after a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)

Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point is tripped up by Los Angeles Kings left wing Jeff Malott (39) as they go for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)

Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) and Los Angeles Kings left wing Andrei Kuzmenko battle along the boards for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) is defended by Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe and Kings' center Anze Kopitar (11) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)

DETROIT (AP) — Norman Powell scored 36 points and Bam Abdebayo added 15 points and 14 rebounds as the Miami Heat extended their winning streak to four games with a 118-112 win over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night.

Cade Cunningham had 31 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds for Detroit and Marcus Sasser scored 18.

Detroit trailed by 22 in the second half and was still down 114-103 with two minutes left, but scored six straight points to make it a five-point game. Powell missed and Javonte Green hit a 3-pointer to get the Pistons within two with 46.4 seconds to play.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. hit a short jumper to make it a two-possession game, though, and Ausar Thompson's turnover forced the Pistons to start fouling. Powell hit a pair of free throws — his first points of the fourth quarter — to clinch it.

Jaquez scored 19 points for the Heat and Andrew Wiggins added 17.

The Pistons can usually overcome their outside shooting struggles by dominating the offensive glass, but that didn't happen in the first half. Miami pulled down 22 of 24 defensive rebound chances and held Detroit to 20% (2 for 10) on 3-pointers.

Powell finished the half with 19 points, including 5 of 8 on 3-pointers, as Miami took a 63-54 lead.

The Heat opened the third quarter with a 15-2 run to take a 22-point lead. Detroit missed its first seven shots and turned the ball over twice. The Pistons reserves cut the deficit to 94-81 at the end of the quarter, led by six points and five rebounds from Paul Reed.

Sasser's outside shooting got Detroit within 98-92 with 9:09 left, but the Pistons struggled to get enough stops for a big run.

Heat: Host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday.

Pistons: Visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday.

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

Miami Heat guard Norman Powell, right, drives past Detroit Pistons forward Duncan Robinson, left, and guard Cade Cunningham during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell, left, and Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham vie for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Miami Heat forward Simone Fontecchio, right, shoots against Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Miami Heat guard Norman Powell celebrates after making a three-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)