Endzone

The German national player Lukas Reichel has suffered his fifth consecutive defeat with the Chicago Blackhawks, but he has scored in two consecutive games for the first time in his career in the North American ice hockey league NHL.

In the 2:4 (1:0, 0:1, 1:3) home defeat against the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday (local time), Reichel made it 2:3 at the end of the third period and scored his fifth goal of the season. But with a minute remaining, the Canucks made the decision with a hit into an empty goal. The Blackhawks haven’t had a chance to make the playoffs for a long time.

Reichel is currently completing his second NHL season. After being used mainly in the Blackhawks’ farm team last season, the Nuremberg-born player is now used constantly in the NHL. The 20-year-old striker has been in the Chicago squad since early March. “He’s very explosive. And I think he’s becoming even more confident in that regard,” said Chicago head coach Luke Richardson.

The Boston Bruins won the top game against the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 (1-0, 2-1, 0-2) after a penalty shoot-out and extended their winning streak to seven wins. Czech international David Pastrnak scored twice to break the 50-goal mark this season. Only Connor McDavid (60 goals) has scored more times this season. The Bruins and Hurricanes are two of three teams that have already qualified for the playoffs.

The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a setback in the fight for playoff spots when superstar LeBron James returned after recovering from injury. The Lakers lost after three wins in the North American basketball league NBA on Sunday (local time) against the Chicago Bulls with 108:118 (55:63)

James came on from the bench for the first time since December 2007 and made a solid comeback with 19 points and eight rebounds. But even the 38-year-old couldn’t prevent the Lakers from being up to 20 points behind in the first half and then always chasing a deficit. National player Dennis Schröder started the game and scored 17 points and five assists.

“When I woke up and got out of bed after yesterday’s workout, I knew I might be able to play today,” James said of his return. “You could see that he found his rhythm right away. He’s a smart, experienced player, one of the all-time greats so it’s not surprising,” said Lakers head coach Darvin Ham. James had missed the previous 13 games with a foot injury, but the Lakers won eight games without their superstar.

With a record of 37 wins and 38 losses, the Lakers are currently in ninth place. The Dallas Mavericks are two places behind – and thus outside the playoff ranks. In a disappointing 104:110 (48:55) against the Charlotte Hornets, the Texans lost for the fourth time in a row.

The Mavericks had to give up after a 7-0 run in the closing stages, and the three-pointer to 104-106 from German international Maxi Kleber (14 points) didn’t change that. Superstar Luka Doncic led Dallas with 40 points, but was called a technical foul in the third quarter. It was Doncic’s 16th this season, which means he will be automatically suspended for the next game.

In the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic kept their small playoff chance. The team of brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner defeated the Brooklyn Nets 119:106 (60:51) and clinched their third win in a row. Franz Wagner scored ten of his 19 points in the closing period and helped maintain a double-digit lead. Thanks to ten rebounds, the winger recorded a double-double for the second time this season. His brother Moritz Wagner got twelve points.

Despite a strong performance with his Edmonton Oilers, Leon Draisaitl suffered a defeat in the top game of the Western Conference of the NHL professional ice hockey league. The team of the native of Cologne lost 3:4 after extra time against the Vegas Golden Knights, Draisaitl scored a goal himself and prepared another one. He has now already collected 112 scorer points.

It was the first loss in five wins for the Oilers, but they are still on course for the playoffs. Edmonton is fifth in the West, with Vegas first. In the third minute of extra time, Nicolas Roy ensured the decision in favor of the Golden Knights.

For Tim Stützle and the Ottawa Senators, on the other hand, there was a defeat: The New Jersey Devils lost the Senators 3:5, Stützle scored two goals and has 81 points. While the Devils secured their ticket to the playoffs, Ottawa’s chances of making the finals are dwindling.

The Denver Nuggets clearly won the top game in the NBA against the Milwaukee Bucks. On Saturday (local time) the best basketball team in the west beat the leader in the east with 129:106 (63:66).

The Nuggets turned the game around midway through the third quarter, dominating and pulling away. Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 31 points and 11 assists, the Serb has won the Most Valuable Player award for the past two seasons and is also considered this season’s MVP contender. On the other hand, Giannis Antetokounmpo had twice won the award for the best NBA player before Jokic, the Greek scored 31 points and nine rebounds, but disappointed after the break.

In the other top game of the North American basketball league, the Phoenix Suns defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 125:105 (58:53), although they still had to do without their superstar Kevin Durnt. Devin Booker was the top scorer at Phoenix with 29 points. The Suns edged out the Los Angeles Clippers for fourth place in the west as the Clippers suffered a 110-131 (56-68) home loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans set a team all-season record with 21 three-pointers converted.

The Atlanta Hawks also set a team best with 143 points, in the 143:130 (72:74) home win over the Indiana Pacers they had to do without Trae Young from the middle of the third quarter. Atlanta’s leader was sent off after violently passing the ball to the referee after a technical foul.

Goalie Philipp Grubauer is still on the play-off course with the Seattle Kraken in the North American professional ice hockey league NHL. In the second game within 24 hours at the Nashville Predators, Seattle celebrated a 7-2 (2-0, 1-1, 4-1) thrashing victory and thus avenged the 1-2 defeat after a penalty shoot-out the day before.

Grubauer stood in goal for the full ice age and parried 14 of 16 shots. In the Pacific Division, Seattle, currently a wild card rank for the playoffs, temporarily reduced the gap to third-placed Edmonton Oilers to two points. The team of the exceptional German player Leon Draisaitl welcomes the top team in the division, the Vegas Golden Knights, on Sunday night.

Meanwhile, national player Moritz Seider and the Detroit Red Wings continue to have negative runs. The Michigan franchise lost 3-0 (0-0, 0-2, 0-1) at the Philadelphia Flyers and suffered their fifth defeat in the past six games. Seventh in the Atlantic Division, Detroit is a long way from the playoffs.

The worst team in the league remains the San Jose Sharks around Stanley Cup winner Nico Sturm. The Sharks, who can no longer qualify for the playoffs, lost to the Calgary Flames 3:5 (1:2, 2:1, 0:2). It was the ninth bankruptcy in a row, although the guests had turned an early 0-2 deficit, also thanks to Sturm’s 14th goal of the season.