Abada's hat trick helps Charlotte beat Montreal 4-0, clinch MLS Cup playoff berth

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Liel Abada scored a career-high three goals in a 15-minute span and Charlotte FC beat CF Montreal 4-0 on Wednesday night to clinch a berth in the 2026 MLS Cup playoffs.

Idan Toklomati had a goal and an assist for Charlotte (14-10-8), which snapped a three-game winless streak. Pep Biel added three assists.

Abada had his first career hat trick and the third in club history, joining Toklomati and Daniel Rios.

Montreal (6-19-7) is winless, with four losses, in its last five. Montreal has the fewest points (25) and worst goal differential (minus-30) in the Eastern Conference.

Toklomati opened the scoring in the seventh minute. Allan Saint-Maximin, near the left corner of the penalty box, spun toward the end line to evade a defender and then played a perfectly-placed cross to Toklomati for a header from the center of the area.

Abada subbed on for Rodolfo Aloko in the 65th minute and scored goals in the 67th, 79th and 83rd. The 25-year-old forward has all of his career-high eight goals this season since the All-Star break.

Kristijan Kahlina had one save for Charlotte.

Samsy Keita stopped three shots for Montreal. The 17-year-old made his second consecutive start.

Montreal: Plays Saturday at New York City FC.

Charlotte: Hosts Orlando on Halloween.

See AP’s full MLS coverage here

Charlotte FC forward Rodolfo Aloko, left, and CF Montreal midfielder Matty Longstaff (8) battle for the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Charlotte FC defender Henry Kessler, right, heads the ball against CF Montreal midfielder Matty Longstaff during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

CF Montreal defender Luca Petrasso (13) battles Charlotte FC forward Rodolfo Aloko for the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Charlotte FC forward Idan Toklomati, right, moves the ball against CF Montreal defender Brayan Vera during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

DALLAS (AP) — Cooper Flagg had 26 points and eight assists and P.J. Washington scored 18 points as the Dallas Mavericks beat the injury-depleted Oklahoma City Thunder 120-96 on Wednesday night.

The Mavericks (3-2) led by 12 in the first half and by 27 in the fourth quarter to move over .500 for the first time since Flagg joined the team last fall.

Dallas' Kyrie Irving scored 15 points, 13 in the first half when he hit his first four shots, including three behind the arc. It was Irving's first home regular-season game since March 3, 2025, when he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. Irving sat out Dallas’ home opener last week on the second half of a back-to-back.

Ajay Mitchell scored 29 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 21 for the Thunder (4-1).

Oklahoma City played its second game of the extended absences of Jalen Williams (broken leg, dislocated ankle) and Cason Wallace (torn labrum) and also the second without Chet Holmgren (patellar tendinitis in his right knee). Alex Caruso also sat out with patellar tendinitis that sidelined him during Monday’s home win over Phoenix.

It was the first home victory for first-year Mavericks coach Dusty May on his second try.

The Mavericks dominated from downtown. They sank a season-best 16 3-pointers on 45 attempts, with 11 made in the first half. The Thunder were a season-low 5 of 32 behind the arc for a season-worst 15.6%. Those were also lows for a Mavericks opponent this season.

Dallas’ accuracy from distance included center Daniel Gafford’s first 3 in eight NBA seasons on his 2,384th career shot. Gafford missed one 3-point try previously, on March 29, 2022 with Washington.

Both teams will face the Houston Rockets next, Dallas at home on Friday and Oklahoma City on the road on Saturday.

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Dallas Mavericks forward Daniel Gafford celebrates after a 3 point basket by guard Max Christie during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

Dallas Mavericks forward Daniel Gafford (21) and Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) compete for the opening tip off during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives past Dallas Mavericks forward Zaccharie Risacher during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

Dallas Mavericks head coach Dusty May talks with guard Marcus Sasser during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) shoots over Dallas Mavericks forward Daniel Gafford (21) and forward Cooper Flagg during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)