LeBron scores 28, leads short-handed Lakers past Durant’s Rockets again 101-94 for 2-0 series lead

April 23, 2026

LOS ANGELES — LeBron James had 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers outlasted the Houston Rockets for a 101-94 victory Tuesday night and a stunning 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series. Marcus Smart had 25 points with five 3-pointers and seven assists for the Lakers, who have twice overcome the absences of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves with a comprehensive team effort led by the 41-year-old James. Los Angeles did it in Game 2 despite the return of Kevin Durant, who scored just three of his 23 points in the second half against ...

Arvidsson scores 2 and the Bruins beat the Sabres 4-2 to even first-round series at 1

April 23, 2026

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Morgan Geekie bounced in a shot from beyond center as part of Boston's three-goal second-period surge and the Bruins beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-2 to even their first-round playoff series at 1 on Tuesday night. Viktor Arvidsson scored twice and Pavel Zacha also scored. David ...

Logan Cooley scores late as the Mammoth beat the Golden Knights 3-2 to even playoffs series

April 23, 2026

LAS VEGAS — Logan Cooley scored off a rebound with six minutes left to give the Mammoth a 3-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night, and they will head back to Utah with a split of the first two games in their first-round playoffs series. Game 3 of the best-of-seven series ...

Nicolas Roy scores on rebound 7:44 into OT, Avs rally for 2-1 win over Kings to take 2-0 series lead

April 23, 2026

DENVER — Nicolas Roy scored on a rebound 7:44 into overtime and Scott Wedgewood made 24 saves, including a penalty shot, as the Colorado Avalanche beat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 on Tuesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series. Roy put the winner through the legs of defenseman Brandt Clarke and into the net to set off a wild celebration. "Just trying to chip in as much as I can, to help these guys out," said Roy, who was acquired in a deal with Toronto on March 5. "Getting that goal was big." The game was halted for roughly 17 minutes in the second period ...

Moser scores in OT as Lightning beat Canadiens 3-2 in Game 2 and tie first-round series

April 23, 2026

TAMPA, Fla. — J.J. Moser scored 12:48 into overtime to give the Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night, tying the first-round playoff series at 1-1. The series shifts to Montreal for two games, with Game 3 set for Friday night. Game 4 is Sunday. Brandon Hagel had a Gordie Howe hat trick with a goal, assist and a fight, and teammate Nikita Kucherov also scored for Tampa Bay. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 25 shots. The Lightning had lost four consecutive home playoff games and 10 of the past 11, dating to Game 4 against Colorado in the 2022 ...

Johnston and Stars beat Wild 4-2 in Game 2 to even their first-round playoff series

April 22, 2026

DALLAS — Wyatt Johnston scored goals on a ricochet and a roller, Matt Duchene had a tiebreaking power-play goal and an assist, and the Dallas Stars beat the Minnesota Wild 4-2 in Game 2 on Monday night to even their Western Conference first-round playoff series. The Stars went ahead to ...