Nathan MacKinnon has goal and an assist in Avalanche's 6-1 victory over Wild

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and his NHL-leading 53rd assist of the season to help the Colorado Avalanche rout the Minnesota Wild 6-1 on Thursday night.

Mikko Rantanan and Logan O'Connor also each had a goal and an assist, Ross Colton, Parker Kelly and Artturi Lehkonen also scored, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 24 saves.

Zach Bogosian scored for the second straight game for the Wild. Filip Gustavsson stopped 21 of 27 shots.

Leading 2-1 in the second period, MacKinnon fed a pass into the slot on a 2-on-2 rush. Rantanen converted on a wrist shot past a screened Gustavsson for his 25th goal of the season.

Rantanen returned the favor when MacKinnon scored Colorado's third goal in a span of 4:25 of the third period to put the Avs on top 6-1.

Avalanche: Colorado saw its 7-0-1 streak snapped in a loss at Chicago on Wednesday night. But the Avs looked like the better rested team as they skated circles around a depleted Wild lineup.

Wild: Despite their numerous injuries, the Wild managed to go 6-0-1 in their previous seven games. But playing without leading scorer Kirill Kaprizov and their top three defensemen took its toll against the Avalanche, who held Minnesota to 12 shots on goal in the first two periods.

Late in the first period, Minnesota defenseman Declan Chisholm set up behind his own net with the puck. While trying to pass to a teammate, Chisholm partially whiffed on the puck, which rolled to Colton for an easy tap-in past Gustavsson.

Minnesota and Colorado entered the game with the 29th- and 23-ranked penalty kill units. But each team was perfect in three penalty-kill chances.

Both team are in action Saturday. The Avalanche are at Winnipeg, and the Wild at San Jose.

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

Minnesota Wild center Frederick Gaudreau, right, and Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen, left, compete for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

Minnesota Wild defenseman Zach Bogosian is congratulated for his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood defends his net during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy, right, skates with the puck as Colorado Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski, left, defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

Colorado Avalanche left wing Jonathan Drouin, right, and Minnesota Wild defenseman Jake Middleton compete for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

Colorado Avalanche center Ross Colton reacts to his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson, center, skates with the puck as Minnesota Wild right wing Mats Zuccarello defends, right, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

DETROIT (AP) — Buddy Hield scored 19 points, helping the Golden State Warriors hold on for a 107-104 win over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night.

Golden State earned a much-needed victory after dropping two straight games at home, losing by 16 points to Miami and getting routed by 30 points against Sacramento.

It wasn't easy.

The Warriors led by 18, but Malik Beasley missed a 3-pointer just before the buzzer that could have sent the game to overtime.

Detroit's Cade Cunningham had 32 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Beasley scored 21 points, missing 10 of his 14 3-pointers.

The Pistons fell to .500 after winning five straight and eight of their previous nine games.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr, whose 90-year-old mother lost her home in the California wildfires, said his team lacked “a competitive spirit” earlier this week and was certainly happy with the response in Detroit.

Golden State led after each quarter and made enough plays on both ends of the court to win. After a 12-3 start, the Warriors had lost 15 of their previous 21 games.

Warriors: On a night Steph Curry missed most of his shots and had 17 points, some teammates stepped up with Andrew Wiggins not with the team for personal reasons. Trayce Jackson-Davis had 14 points and 10 rebounds, Dennis Schroder and Gui Santos each had 13 points and Lindy Waters added 11.

Pistons: Tobias Harris had 13 points and Ron Holland scored 11, trying to make up for the scoring punch lost with Jaden Ivey out of the lineup with a broken leg.

Draymond Green had words with Holland, dunked, drew a charge against the rookie and set up Hield for a 3-pointer to put the Warriors ahead 92-78 midway through the fourth quarter.

Curry was 5 of 21 overall and missed 12 of 14 3-pointers.

Golden State plays at Indiana on Friday night and Detroit hosts Toronto on Saturday.

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

Detroit Pistons forward Simone Fontecchio (19) loses control of the ball while being defended by Golden State Warriors forward Lindy Waters III, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson (9) drives against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)