Zielinski scores last-gasp winner as Serie A leader Inter beats Juventus 3-2 to stay 8 points ahead

Piotr Zielinski scored a last-minute winner as Serie A leader Inter Milan beat Juventus 3-2 to stay eight points ahead of second-placed AC Milan on Saturday.

Juventus twice came from behind and overcame a red card but finally capitulated in the 90th when Zielinski drove in a low shot after being set up by Yann Bisseck near the penalty area.

The defeat dropped Juve one place to fifth behind Roma, which has a better goal difference and can move into third spot if it wins at defending champion Napoli on Sunday.

Juventus left back Andrea Cambiaso scored at both ends in the first half.

He inadvertently deflected Luis Henrique's cross past his goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio in the 17th minute, then latched on to a right-wing cross from American midfielder Weston McKennie in the 26th.

Juve's chances were hampered when defender Pierre Kalulu was sent off for a second yellow card late in the first half after fouling Alessandro Bastoni, who moments earlier had missed a golden chance from close range.

Inter regained the lead in the 76th when forward Pio Esposito headed in powerfully from Federico Dimarco's left-wing cross. Manuel Locatelli equalized from another McKennie cross in the 83rd to ensure a tense finish.

Zielinski ensured Inter notched a sixth straight win overall.

Como's hopes of securing Champions League qualification were dealt a blow by visiting Fiorentina.

Nicolo Fagioli and Moise Kean scored in 2-1 win for Fiorentina at Como's Guiseppe Sinigaglia stadium.

The day got worse for Como as Champions League-chasing rival Atalanta won 2-0 at Lazio to move one point above in sixth place, thanks to a penalty from midfielder Ederson in the 41st minute and a second-half effort from Poland’s Nicola Zalewski.

Como's defeat came days after it advanced to the semifinals of the Coppa Italia for the first time in 40 years by beating Italian champion Napoli.

An impressive campaign could yet see it secure a place in next season's Champions League, but the loss to relegation-fighting Fiorentina was a setback.

Fagioli put Como ahead in the 26th from close range after his first effort was blocked. Kean scored from the penalty spot nine minutes into the second half.

Como created a number of chances as it tried to get back into the game and the pressure told when Fabiano Parisi fired into his own net in the 77th. But it couldn't find an equalizer and ended the game with 10 men when Alvaro Morata was sent off in the 89th.

On Friday, Luka Modrić scored a late winner for AC Milan to beat Pisa 2-1.

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

Juventus' Pierre Kalulu reacts after getting a red card during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Juventus, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP)

Juventus' Andrea Cambiaso celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Serie A soccer match between Inter and Juventus in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)

Inter Milan's Piotr Zielinski, right, fights for the ball with Juventus' Jonathan David during the Serie A soccer match between Inter and Juventus in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)

Atalanta's Nicola Zalewski, centre, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Atalanta in Rome, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Atalanta's Nicola Zalewski celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Atalanta in Rome, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Como's Jacobo Ramon and Fiorentina's Moise Kean, left, in action during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Fiorentina, in Como, Italy, Saturday Feb. 14, 2026. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

Fiorentina's Nicolo Fagioli celebrates after scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Fiorentina, in Como, Italy, Saturday Feb. 14, 2026. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Brandon Miller scored 22 points, Kon Knueppel added 20 and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Indiana Pacers 129-108 on Friday night for their eighth victory in 10 games.

Miles Bridges scored 19 points and LaMelo Ball had 18 points and nine assists to help the Hornets improve to 42-26. Charlotte was 24 of 49 from 3-point range.

Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 30 points. The Pacers (18-59) had won two in a row.

The Hornets entered the night in eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings — 1 1/2 games behind Philadelphia and Toronto.

They left no doubt about this one.

Behind a flurry of early 3-pointers — including three in the first quarter from reserve Sion James — the Hornets raced to a 31-11 lead. Charlotte shot 14 of 27 from 3-point range in the first half to take a 69-50 lead.

Knueppel, who set the franchise record for 3s in a season Thursday night against Phoenix, finished 3 of 7 from beyond the arc and also showed versatility in his game with a coast-to-coast layup.

Ball had five 3s while Miller and James finished with four each. James had 13 points, two shy of his career high.

Quenton Jackson added 16 points for Indiana.

Pacers: At Cleveland on Sunday night.

Hornets: At Minnesota on Sunday night.

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

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball reacts after making a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Charlotte Hornets guard Coby White, right, drives into Indiana Pacers guard Ethan Thompson, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Charlotte Hornets guard Coby White (3) moves the ball against Indiana Pacers guard Kam Jones (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Indiana Pacers guard Ethan Thompson (55) battles Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel, right, for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)