Nolan Traore scores 23 points, Jalen Wilson adds 19 and Nets beat Wizards 121-115

NEW YORK (AP) — Nolan Traore hit five 3-pointers and finished with 23 points and seven assists, Jalen Wilson added 19 points and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Washington Wizards 121-115 on Sunday.

The Wizards (17-61) have a two-game on the Nets (19-59) for the best lottery odds. Indiana is 18-60 after Sunday's loss at Cleveland.

Washington has lost six in a row and 22 of its past 23. The Wizards had given up 305 combined points in back-to-back losses to Philadelphia ( 153-131 ) and Miami ( 152-136 ).

Brooklyn won for just the second time in its past 14 games.

Will Riley, who had a career-high 31 points Saturday against the Heat, scored 30, Jamir Watkins added 20 points, and Julian Reese had 17 points and 16 rebounds for the Wizards. Anthony Gill also scored 17 points and Bub Carrington had 13 points.

E.J. Liddell and Josh Minott each scored 15 for Brooklyn. Drake Powell added 13 points and Ochai Agbaji scored 12.

Watkins hit a 3-pointer that gave the Wizards a four-point lead with 3:50 left in the game. The Nets answered with an 8-0 run that culminated when Traore made layup that made it 109-105 with two minutes remaining and Brooklyn led the rest of the way.

Leaky Black responded with a 3-pointer that cut the deficit to a point, but Wilson and Traore hit back-to-back 3s before Trevon Scott's layup made it 117-108 with 42 seconds to go.

Wizards: Host Chicago on Tuesday and Thursday.

Nets: Host Milwaukee on Tuesday.

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

Brooklyn Nets forward Josh Minott (00) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Brooklyn Nets forward E.J. Liddell (9) goes for a dunk during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Washington Wizards forward Julian "Juju" Reese (15) fights to keep hold of the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Brooklyn Nets guard Nolan Traore (88) celebrates shooting a three-pointer during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

DENVER (AP) — Robert Thomas broke a tie with 2:50 left to complete his first NHL hat trick and the St. Louis Blues kept their late postseason charge rolling with a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night to open a home-and-home set.

The teams will meet again Tuesday night in St. Louis.

The Blues are 13-3-3 since the NHL returned from the Olympic break in late February. They have 78 points as they chase the last Western Conference wild-card spot, which is currently occupied by Nashville with 81 points. Los Angeles (81), San Jose (79) and Winnipeg (78) are in the mix, too.

Thomas pushed his goals total to 21. He scored the winner off Jimmy Snuggerud's third assist. Joel Hofer finished with 26 saves, weathering a flurry of activity in the third period after losing a skate blade.

The Avalanche were coming off a 2-0 win over Dallas on Saturday. They’re on the brink of wrapping up the Central Division and top seed in the Western Conference. In addition, they're six points ahead of Carolina in the race for the Presidents’ Trophy.

Parker Kelly and Brent Burns scored for Colorado. The 41-year-old Burns also had an assist in his 1,001st straight game. He was honored before the game for No. 1,000, with teammates, past and present, offering congratulations in a video tribute.

Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 25 shots. The Avalanche were 0 for 3 on the power play.

Ross Colton nearly put the Avalanche up midway through the first period when he knocked in a puck out of the air. But the Blues successfully challenged the play for offside.

Moments later, Thomas scored to make it 1-0. Colorado tied it up on Kelly's 20th goal of the season.

Colorado forward Valeri Nichushkin was a late scratch with an upper-body injury.

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

St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer, right, makes a glove save of a shot by Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon as St. Louis defenseman Philip Broberg covers in the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche center Martin Necas has his shot blocked by St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer, right, after drivng past defenseman Logan Mailloux in the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer, right, stops a shot by Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon in the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood, right, stops a shot by St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas, front right, as Colorado center Jack Drury defends in the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas scores a goal against the Colorado Avalanche in the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)