Oilers win season-high 5th straight, beating Chicago 3-1 to end Blackhawks' playoff hopes

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Connor McDavid set up Matt Savoie's power-play goal to pad his NHL-leading points total and help the Edmonton Oilers win their season-high fifth straight game, 3-1 over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night.

Chicago lost its fifth straight to drop out of playoff contention, extending its postseason drought to six seasons. Edmonton matched Pacific Division-leading Anaheim with 87 points, but has played one more game than the Ducks.

Adam Henrique and Vasily Podkolzin also scored for the Oilers, and Tristan Jarry made 17 saves. They have won seven of their last nine, surging with star forward Leon Draisaitl out for the rest of the regular season because of a lower-body injury.

Nick Lardis scored for Chicago. Spencer Knight stopped 31 shots for Chicago, and Arvid Soderblom made four saves and allowed a goal while Knight dealt with an equipment issue.

McDavid's goals streak ended at five games. He has 43 goals and 83 assists for 126 points, two more than Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov for the NHL lead.

Blackhawks: At Seattle on Saturday night.

Oilers: Host Vegas on Saturday night.

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

Chicago Blackhawks' Anton Frondell (16) is checked by Edmonton Oilers' Jake Walman (96) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, on Thursday April 2, 2026. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Chicago Blackhawks' Sam Rinzel (6) watches the puck go in past Edmonton Oilers goalie Tristan Jarry (35) during third-period NHL hockey game action in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight (30) makes the save as Sam Rinzel (6) and Edmonton Oilers' Trent Frederic (10) crash the net during the second period of an NHL game, in Edmonton on Thursday April 2, 2026. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight (30) makes the save as Sam Rinzel (6) and Edmonton Oilers' Trent Frederic (10) crash the net during the second period of an NHL game, in Edmonton on Thursday April 2, 2026. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight (30) makes the save as Sam Rinzel (6) and Edmonton Oilers' Trent Frederic (10) crash the net during the second period of an NHL game, in Edmonton on Thursday April 2, 2026. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder routed the Los Angeles Lakers 139-96 on Thursday night in a game in which NBA leading scorer Luka Doncic left due to injury.

Only six times in their storied history have the Lakers been defeated by more points. They fell six points short of their worst margin of defeat ever — a 49-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks in 2017.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning league MVP, got the best of his matchup with Doncic — one of Gilgeous-Alexander's top competitors for this season's award. Doncic had scored at least 40 points in five of his previous seven games, but he finished with 12 points on 3-for-10 shooting from the field and 1-for-7 shooting from 3-point range against the Thunder's suffocating defense.

Doncic left the game with a left hamstring injury in the middle of the third quarter. Lakers coach JJ Redick said he will have an MRI on Friday.

Austin Reaves scored 15 points and LeBron James added 13 for the Lakers.

Isaiah Joe added 20 points and made six 3-pointers as Oklahoma City shot 53.9% to turn a matchup between two of the league’s hottest teams into a blowout. The Thunder have now won 16 of 17. The Lakers had won four straight and 13 of 14.

It was a critical game for Oklahoma City. The Thunder entered the night two games ahead of San Antonio in the race for homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs with six games remaining.

In a sign of things to come in the game, it took the Lakers nearly five minutes to make their first field goal. The Thunder led 44-21 at the end of the first behind 14 points from Lu Dort.

The Lakers had another shooting drought to start the second quarter, taking a little more than four minutes to make their field goal. The Thunder reached their season high point total for a first half when they took a 76-41 lead on a layup by Gilgeous-Alexander with 3:25 left in the second quarter.

Oklahoma City led 82-51 at the break, falling a point short of the Thunder regular-season record for points in a half. They scored 83 in the first half of a game against Minnesota in 2021.

Joe hit three 3-pointers in an 85-second flurry to put the Thunder up 99-61 in the third quarter. The teams played reserves throughout the fourth quarter.

The Lakers will host a rematch on April 7.

Lakers: Visit the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.

Thunder: Host the Utah Jazz on Sunday.

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

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots against Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 2, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) drives against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell (25) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April. 2, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, April. 2, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)

Los Angeles Lakers forward/guard Luka Dončić (77) drives against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April. 2, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots against Los Angeles Lakers forward Jake LaRavia (12) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 2, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)