Parker Kelly scores 2 as Avalanche beat Flames 4-2 to move to 7-0-1 in last 8 games

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Parker Kelly scored twice and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Calgary Flames 4-2 on Friday night.

Ryan Lindgren and Valeri Nichushkin also scored for Colorado, which has points in eight straight (7-0-1). The Avalanche moved within three points of the Dallas Stars for second place in the Central Division. Scott Wedgewood had 22 saves.

Blake Coleman and Jonathan Huberdeau scored for Calgary, which lost in regulation for the first time in six games (2-1-3). The Flames remain tied with Vancouver for the second wild card in the Western Conference. Dustin Wolf had 24 saves.

Lindgren scored with 6:39 left in the first and Kelly made it 2-0 with 4:36 left in the second.

Coleman got the Flames on the scoreboard at 3:08 of the third, but Kelly made it 3-1 at 5:55 for his second career two-goal game.

Huberdeau's power-play goal pulled the Flames back within one with 3:38 to go, but Nichushkin sealed the win with an empty-netter with 1:39 remaining.

Avalanche: Lindgren snapped a 28-game goal-scoring drought, and Kelly had not scored in his last 20 games.

Flames: Captain Mikael Backlund (upper body) did not play, snapping a 328-game iron man streak. W

After Coleman’s first goal in 15 games drew the Flames back within one early in the third, Calgary built momentum and nearly tied it on multiple occasions before Kelly restored the two-goal cushion at 5:55. He converted a pass from Ross Colton after MacKenzie Weegar turned the puck over behind the Flames' net.

The Avalanche lead the NHL with 92 goals in the third period.

Avalanche host Dallas on Sunday, and Flames visit Toronto on Monday to open a four-game trip.

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

Colorado Avalanche's Jack Drury, left, checks Calgary Flames' MacKenzie Weegar during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, March 14, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche goalie Scott Wedgewood, right, ducks as the net topples forward as Devon Toews, center, checks Calgary Flames' Rasmus Andersson during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, March 14, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche's Logan O'Connor, right, and Calgary Flames' Ryan Lomberg, left, chase the puck during second-period NHL hockey game action in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, March 14, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche's Jack Drury, right, checks Calgary Flames' Ryan Lomberg, left, during first-period NHL hockey game action in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, March 14, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche's Parker Kelly, right, is checked by Calgary Flames' Kevin Bahl, center, as goalie Dustin Wolf follows the play during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, March 14, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche's Ross Colton (20) is checked by Calgary Flames' Yegor Sharangovich (17) during first-period NHL hockey game action in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, March 14, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin, second from right, and Calgary Flames' Kevin Bahl, right, battle for position in front of Flames goalie Dustin Wolf, left, during second-period NHL hockey game action in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, March 14, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin, right, is checked by Calgary Flames' Martin Pospisil, left, during third-period NHL hockey game action in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, March 14, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche's Parker Kelly, left, celebrates his goal with teammate Ross Colton during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, March 14, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton offers a succinct description of the growing rivalry between his team and the Milwaukee Bucks.

“It’s no secret,” Haliburton said. “They don’t like us. We don’t like them.”

The two Eastern Conference foes met for the last time in the regular season on Saturday night, with the Bucks building a 21-point, fourth-quarter lead and hanging on down the stretch for a 126-119 victory.

But it’s looking increasingly likely that the teams will face off in the opening round of the playoffs for a second straight season.

Milwaukee’s victory Saturday gave the Bucks (38-28) a one-game lead over Indiana for fourth place in the East and the corresponding home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Both teams still must look out for the Detroit Pistons, who are sixth in the East and just two games behind Milwaukee and one back of Indiana.

The Pacers eliminated the Bucks 4-2 in the opening round last season before going on to reach the East finals. Bucks coach Doc Rivers said that postseason matchup helped build this developing rivalry.

“There’s definitely something there, and that’s good,” Rivers said before Saturday’s game. “I think rivalries are great, personally. You can’t just make them up, though. They have to happen. I think this one is happening. And it’s good.”

The key to the rivalry is the spirited matchups between the teams over the last two seasons.

Haliburton mimicked Bucks guard Damian Lillard’s “Dame Time” celebration by pointing to his wrist during Indiana’s victory over Milwaukee in last season’s semifinals of the NBA Cup, which was known then as the In-Season Tournament.

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a franchise-record 64 points in a victory over the Pacers later that season and then raced toward Indiana’s locker room afterward in a dispute over the game ball.

The Pacers pulled out an improbable 115-114 triumph over the Bucks on Tuesday in Indiana when Haliburton made a four-point play with 3.4 seconds remaining, getting fouled while sinking an off-balance 3-pointer and then making the ensuing free throw.

Milwaukee got a measure of revenge Saturday but only after Indiana nearly pulled off a remarkable comeback. Indiana trailed by 21 with 11 minutes left but got the deficit down to three with 12.7 seconds remaining before the Bucks hung on.

“A team like the Indiana Pacers, they’re going to keep on playing hard, they’re going to keep on trying to create open 3s and trying to get downhill and try to keep on playing fast,” said Antetokounmpo, who had 34 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists Saturday before fouling out. “You’ve got to be ready to play a 48-minute basketball game.”

Indiana’s fast-paced approach represents an interesting contrast with Milwaukee, which has one of the league’s older rosters and tends to operate at a slower tempo.

The Pacers have a younger team that’s led by Haliburton, who grew up in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and now gets boos whenever he plays in his home state.

He may want to get used to hearing them. The Bucks’ victory Saturday gave them a 3-1 edge in their season series with the Pacers, giving Milwaukee the head-to-head tiebreaker if the two teams end up with the same record.

That means there’s a possibility Haliburton could be playing in Milwaukee as many as four times in the first round of the playoffs.

“It’s looking right now like we might be on a crash course to seeing each other again,” Haliburton said. “That’s the beautiful part of basketball. I think everybody as competitors enjoys these matchups, enjoys these games. It’s two small-market Midwest teams, and I think that just makes it even more fun.”

__

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

Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton wraps his arms around Milwaukee Bucks' Taurean Prince during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives against Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Bucks' Taurean Prince, left and Damian Lillard, right, reach for the ball with Indiana Pacers' Pascal Siakam (43) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Bucks' Taurean Prince (12) reacts after his 3-point basket against the Indiana Pacers during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton (0) passes the ball against Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)