Bucks extend winning streak to 6 games with a 136-111 win over the Pelicans

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 28 points and 11 rebounds as the Milwaukee Bucks extended their winning streak to six games with a 136-111 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night.

Kevin Porter Jr. had 20 points and seven assists, Kyle Kuzma and Gary Trent Jr. each scored 17 points, Bobby Portis added 14 and Ryan Rollins finished with 12 for the Bucks.

Milwaukee moves on to an important two-game, regular-season ending series against the Detroit Pistons on Friday and Sunday.

Lester Quinones scored 21 points and Jamal Cain and Keion Brooks Jr. each had 20 as the Pelicans dropped their fifth straight game. Antonio Reeves scored 16 while Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Karlo Matkovic contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds apiece.

Pelicans: New Orleans was competitive well into the third quarter, despite having just eight available players. The Pelicans had 11 players listed as out on the injury report.

Bucks: With Indiana’s win over Cleveland, the Pacers clinched the No. 4 seed in the East, meaning Milwaukee will start the playoffs on the road. The Bucks will have to win one of two upcoming games against Detroit to claim the No. 5 seed.

Milwaukee led 89-80 in the third quarter before going on a 9-1 run that included a 3-pointer and a layup by Gary Trent Jr. It helped the Bucks get far enough ahead to begin resting their starters.

Antetokounmpo’s run of consecutive triple doubles ended at three.

New Orleans hosts the Miami Heat on Friday. Milwaukee is at the Detroit Pistons on Friday in the opener of a home-and-home set.

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

New Orleans Pelicans' Keion Brooks Jr. (0) misses a dunk against Milwaukee Bucks' Kevin Porter Jr., behind, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

New Orleans Pelicans' Lester Quinones (22) drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks' AJ Green during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

New Orleans Pelicans' Antonio Reeves (12) drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks' AJ Green during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives to the basket against New Orleans Pelicans' Jamal Cain, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

New Orleans Pelicans' Antonio Reeves drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks' Kyle Kuzma during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

New Orleans Pelicans' Keion Brooks Jr. (0) misses a dunk against Milwaukee Bucks' Kevin Porter Jr., right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, drives to the basket against New Orleans Pelicans' Jamal Cain (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts to a call during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Kevin Porter Jr. (3) gestures next to New Orleans Pelicans' Lester Quinones (22) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Jack Eichel and Mark Stone made clear they belong together, on a Vegas first line that can be one of the most potent in these NHL playoffs.

Eichel and Stone each had a goal and an assist and Adin Hill made 29 saves for the Golden Knights, who became the first Western Conference team to reach the second round with a 3-2 victory in Game 6 that ousted the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night.

“They gave us everything we could handle,” Eichel said. “They played so hard.”

Shea Theodore scored on a power play early in the first period, Eichel got his first goal of the series late in the second period and Stone had the critical late score for Vegas, which will face the winner of the Edmonton-Los Angeles series. The Oilers took a 3-2 lead on the Kings into Game 6 on their home ice later on Thursday.

The Wild have lost nine consecutive series, tied for the third-longest streak in NHL history, according to Sportradar. Their skid of eight straight one-and-done appearances is tied for the second-longest in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Wild, who last made it out of the first round 10 years ago, got two goals from Ryan Hartman, including a wraparound with 3:27 left that came 31 seconds after Stone had given the Golden Knights a two-goal lead.

Stone, who set up Eichel with a long pass out of the zone that was inches out of reach of the stick of Kirill Kaprizov after he dived to try to prevent the breakaway that beat goalie Filip Gustavsson, had four points in the last three games.

“Everyone stepped up at different parts of the series and found ways to contribute,” Eichel said. “That’s how you win this time of year.”

Neither Stone nor Eichel recorded a single point in the first three games, thanks in part to the bruising Wild who frequently took away the middle of the ice and most of the Golden Knights' opportunities to use their speed.

Coach Bruce Cassidy shuffled the lines for Game 4, which helped ignite more of an attack. The absence of Pavel Dorofeyev in Game 6 prompted Cassidy to reunite Eichel and Stone in the top trio alongside William Karlsson.

“They got better as the series went on,” Cassidy said.

Hartman tied the game for the Wild with 4 seconds left in the first period, a goal safe from replay review unlike his go-ahead score in Game 5 with 1:15 remaining in regulation that was revoked for an offside call after Vegas challenged.

The Golden Knights went on to win their second straight overtime decision, before finishing off the Wild with a third consecutive one-goal win.

“We hear the noise of getting by the first round. We understand it,” Wild left wing Marcus Foligno said. “We really felt like we could’ve done it this year, and that’s the disappointing part, right?”

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

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) skates with the puck while Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson defends the net during the second period of Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Thursday, May 1, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) is congratulated by teammates after scoring during the second period of Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, May 1, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) celebrates after scoring against Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson during the third period of Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Thursday, May 1, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)

Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy (12) and Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27) battle for the puck during the first period of Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Thursday, May 1, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27) celebrates with teammates after scoring a power play goal during the first period of Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, May 1, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill watches the play during the first period of Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, May 1, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)

Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy (12) and Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27) battle for the puck during the first period of Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Thursday, May 1, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)

Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Hartman, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring during the first period of Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights, Thursday, May 1, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)