Leonard Miller's career night paces Bulls to 119-108 win over Wizards

WASHINGTON (AP) — Leonard Miller scored a career-high 26 points and matched his career best with 11 rebounds as the Chicago Bulls eased to a 119-108 victory over the Washington Wizards on Thursday night to sweep a two-game set.

Tre Jones scored 31 points and Collin Sexton added 27 for the Bulls, who won 129-98 at Washington on Tuesday night to snap a seven-game skid.

Miller, Jones and Sexton combined to shoot 65.3% (32 of 49) as Chicago (31-49) pulled even with Milwaukee for 11th place in the Eastern Conference and the best record among teams eliminated from postseason contention.

Bulls center Guerschon Yabusele departed early in the third quarter with a sprained left shoulder.

Will Riley scored 23 points to lead Washington, which had 10 players sidelined by injuries.

Julian Reese added 16 points and 15 rebounds for the NBA-worst Wizards, who have lost 24 of 25 to sink to 17-63 with two games remaining.

Chicago took control by outscoring Washington 16-4 to close the third quarter. Jones scored the last six points of that stretch, including consecutive layups in the final minute to make it 87-74.

Bulls: Host Orlando on Friday.

Wizards: Host Miami on Friday.

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

Chicago Bulls guard Collin Sexton, right, shoots against Washington Wizards forward Juju Reese (15) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Chicago Bulls guard Tre Jones, left, goes to the basket past Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington (7) and forward Anthony Gill (16) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Chicago Bulls guard Tre Jones (30) dribbles against Washington Wizards forward Anthony Gill (16) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Chicago Bulls forward Leonard Miller (11) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Chicago Bulls forward Leonard Miller (11) goes to the basket past Washington Wizards guard Will Riley, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

NEW YORK (AP) — Matthew Schaefer tied the NHL record for goals by a rookie defenseman, and the Islanders defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 on Thursday night in Peter DeBoer’s first game as New York's coach.

Cal Ritchie had a goal and an assist, and Ilya Sorokin finished with 13 saves as the Islanders snapped a four-game skid. Brayden Schenn, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Emil Heineman also scored, and Tony DeAngelo added two assists.

DeBoer was hired Sunday after the Islanders fired Patrick Roy amid a late-season slide that saw the team lose seven of 10 games. New York remains in contention for a wild-card playoff spot, trailing Ottawa by three points with three games left.

Steven Lorentz, Easton Cowan and Morgan Rielly scored for Toronto. Artur Akhtyamov made 39 saves for the Maple Leafs, who lost their fifth straight.

Schaefer’s goal midway through the second period was his 23rd of the season to match Hall of Famer Brian Leetch’s record for a rookie defender, set in 1988-89 for the New York Rangers. His shot through Akhtyamov’s legs put the Islanders ahead 3-2.

Heineman scored late in the second for a two-goal advantage, and Ritchie added a power-play goal midway through the third period to put the game out of reach.

New York scored twice in the first five minutes to open the DeBoer era.

Schenn opened the scoring at 2:08 of the first period, finishing a feed from Ritchie on a delayed penalty. Pageau added a goal later in the period, depositing his own rebound to extend the Islanders’ lead to 2-0.

Maple Leafs: Host Florida on Saturday.

Islanders: Host Ottawa on Saturday.

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

New York Islanders' Emil Heineman (51) celebrates after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Artur Akhtyamov, left, protects the net from New York Islanders' Calum Ritchie during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Islanders' Calum Ritchie (64) celebrates after scoring a goal as Toronto Maple Leafs' Troy Stecher (28) and Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Artur Akhtyamov react during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Islanders' Calum Ritchie, left, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Islanders' Matthew Schaefer (48) celebrates with teammates Tony DeAngelo (77) andn Ondrej Palat (81) after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)