MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Tobias Harris led a balanced scoring attack with 18 points on Saturday as the Detroit Pistons strengthened their hold on the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a 109-87 victory over the injury-riddled Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jalen Duren had 10 points and 13 rebounds for the Pistons, who have won nine of their last 11 games. They began the day with a four-game lead over Boston in the race for the Eastern Conference’s top seed.
Five other Pistons scored at least 10 points, led by Daniss Jenkins and Ronald Holland II with 13 apiece.
Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards (right knee inflammation) missed his sixth straight game. The Timberwolves also played without starting forward Jaden McDaniels (right knee soreness) and guard Ayo Dosunmu (right calf soreness).
Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (collapsed lung) also missed his sixth straight game.
Donte DiVincenzo hit five 3-pointers and led Minnesota with 22 points. Rudy Gobert had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who shot a season-low 32% (27 for 85) from the floor and 21% (9 for 43) from beyond the arc.
Paul Reed scored six quick points on two free throws and two dunks and Caris LaVert hit two fadeaway jumpers as the Pistons pulled out to 33-24 lead after the first quarter.
DiVincenzo helped Minnesota rally in the second, scoring all of their points in a 10-2 run that helped the Timberwolves cut the deficit to 49-44 at the half.
Pistons: At Oklahoma City on Monday.
Timberwolves: At Dallas on Monday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Detroit Pistons forward Ron Holland (5) knocks the ball away from Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) as Pistons forward Paul Reed, right, approaches in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland (8) works around Detroit Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins, left, in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr., bottom, loses the ball as Detroit Pistons forward Paul Reed, top, defends in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
BOSTON (AP) — Pavel Zacha scored his 25th goal in the opening period and added a game-sealing score late in the game, leading the Boston Bruins past Minnesota 6-3 on Saturday to spoil the Wild’s chance to clinch a playoff spot.
Elias Lindholm scored twice while Andrew Peeke and Viktor Arvidsson also had goals for the Bruins. David Pastrnak extended his season-high point streak to 12 games with two assists and Jeremy Swayman made 31 saves.
In a tight race with Montreal for third place in the Atlantic Division, Boston has won four of its last five games and 15 of its last 17 home games.
The Wild have lost six of their last nine but have a firm hold on third place in the Central Division. A victory Saturday would have earned them a playoff berth.
Kirill Kaprizov scored late in the second period for Minnesota after it fell behind 3-0. Mats Zuccarello added a power-play goal with a two-man advantage in the third to pull the Wild within 4-2.
Ryan Hartman’s goal sliced Minnesota’s deficit to 4-3 with just over 6 minutes left before Zacha’s second with 3:10 left sealed it.
Filip Gustavsson stopped 25 shots but failed to pick up his 100th career victory.
Peeke’s shot from just above the right circle caromed in off the far post and crossbar, making it 1-0 just 61 seconds into the game.
Zacha extended his career-high goal mark by one-timing Arvidsson’s feed past Gustavsson 14 minutes into the first. Zacha’s previous career-best total was 21, done twice in his first two seasons with Boston.
Pastrnak sent a cross-ice pass to Arvidsson, who beat Gustavsson for a tough-angle goal from deep at the left circle midway into the second.
The Wild easily handled the Bruins in the teams’ previous matchup in Minnesota on Dec. 14.
Wild: Host Vancouver on Thursday.
Bruins: At Columbus Sunday.
AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
Minnesota Wild's Zach Bogosian tries to hold off Boston Bruins' David Pastrnak during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm (27) and goaltender Jeremy Swayman, right, watch the puck near the crease during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Minnesota Wild's Matt Boldy collides with Boston Bruins' David Pastrnak while going after a loose puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Boston Bruins' Viktor Arvidsson (71) is congratulated at the bench after scoring as Minnesota Wild's Ryan Hartman (38) skates past during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
