Gary Trent Jr.'s 29 points and Brook Lopez's double-double help the Bucks top the Pelicans 111-107

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Gary Trent Jr. scored a season-high 29 points, and the Milwaukee Bucks improved their hold on fifth place in the Eastern Conference by defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 111-107 on Sunday night.

Milwaukee rested Giannis Antetokounmpo after he played 43 minutes — and had 36 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists — in a 121-115 overtime victory at Miami on Saturday night.

Brook Lopez had 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Bucks (44-34), who won their fourth straight, and took a full game lead on idle Detroit (43-35).

New Orleans was without four starters, and usual reserves for both clubs seized chances to play more.

Milwaukee's Kevin Porter Jr., who had 24 points and 12 rebounds off the bench in Miami, got the start in New Orleans and scored 20 points. Ryan Rollins added 14 points and 10 assists.

Antonio Reeves scored 23 and fellow rookie Yves Missi had 18 points and 12 rebounds for New Orleans, which lost its third straight. Second-year pro Lester Quinones, playing in just his ninth NBA game this season, scored 17 points.

Bucks: In addition to Antetokounmpo, the Bucks also played without Damian Lillard (right calf) and Bobby Portis (suspension). That sidelined trio has averaged 69.1 points combined per game this season. Pat Connaughton (right ankle) also was a late scratch. Bucks starters were Taurean Prince, Kyle Kuzma (17 points), Lopez, Trent and Porter.

Pelicans: New Orleans guard Jose Alvarado joined a long list of sidelined Pelicans that included Zion Williamson (lower back), CJ McCollum (right foot), Herb Jones (right shoulder), Trey Murphy III (right shoulder), Dejounte Murray (right Achilles), Kelly Olynyk (rest), Jordan Hawkins (lower back) and Brandon Boston (left ankle). The Pelicans' starters were Bruce Brown (16 points), Keion Brooks, Missi, Reeves and Elfrid Payton (10 assists).

Trent drove in for a layup and Porter turned a steal seconds later into a dunk to give the Bucks a 110-99 lead with 1:29 left.

The Bucks turned 12 Pelicans turnovers into 18 points.

Both teams play Tuesday, when the Bucks host Minnesota and the Pelicans visit Brooklyn.

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

Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) reacts after making a 3-point basket against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

Milwaukee Bucks center Jericho Sims (00) shoots against Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi (21) fouls Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. (3) near Pelicans forward Keion Brooks Jr. (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi (21) shoots against Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) celebrates after a 3-point basket against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. (5) celebrates after a basket with forward Taurean Prince (12) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

DENVER (AP) — Kiefer Sherwood and Dakota Joshua had a goal and an assist, Kevin Lankinen stopped 31 shots and the Vancouver Canucks beat Colorado 4-1 on Thursday night as the Avalanche gave leading scorer Nathan MacKinnon the game off to rest and heal for the postseason.

Jake DeBrusk also scored for the Canucks, who’ve been eliminated from postseason contention. Nils Hoglander added an empty-net goal with 1:58 remaining.

Devon Toews had a goal and Mackenzie Blackwood made 26 saves for the Avalanche in their final home game of the regular season. Colorado will enter the postseason as the Central Division’s No. 3 seed and open a first-round series on the road.

By sitting out, MacKinnon's streak of 209 straight games was halted. He might not play in the final two regular-season games, either. MacKinnon is tied with Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov for the league lead with 116 points.

Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog began a minor league conditioning assignment with the Colorado Eagles and could suit up with the Eagles this weekend.

Landeskog could be activated for Game 1 of Colorado’s playoff series if the conditioning assignment and additional practices go well. A knee injury and subsequent surgeries have sidelined Landeskog since he helped the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022.

Canucks: Finished 3-0 against Colorado to sweep the season series for the first time since 2016-17.

Colorado: The short-handed Avalanche were without defensemen Ryan Lindgren (upper body) and Josh Manson (upper body), along with forwards Jonathan Drouin (upper body) and Ross Colton (lower body).

Joshua knocked in a loose puck with 13:46 remaining to make it a 3-1 game.

Colorado’s defensemen have a combined 206 points this season.

Colorado wraps up the regular season with a back-to-back starting Saturday in Los Angeles. Vancouver hosts Minnesota on Saturday.

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

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski, right, collects the puck as Vancouver Canucks left wing Kiefer Sherwood, left, defends in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, right, makes a glove-save of a shot while screened by the Vancouver Canucks center Linus Karlsson (94) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski, top, lands on Vancouver Canucks left wing Drew O'Connor as they pursue the puck in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood pulls on a glove before the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard, left, checks Vancouver Canucks center Aatu Raty, right, as they pursue the puck in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Vancouver Canucks left wing Kiefer Sherwood, front right, drives between Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard, left, and left wing Jimmy Vesey (26) in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)