The Colorado Avalanche have acquired Brock Nelson of the New York Islanders, the most coveted center available ahead of Friday's NHL trade deadline.

The Islanders sent Nelson and forward William Dufour to the Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Oliver Kylington, forward Calum Ritchie, a first-round draft pick in 2026 or 2027 and a conditional third-round pick in 2028.

New York then traded Kylington to the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations.

Nelson, 33, has played all 12 years of his NHL career with the Islanders, who drafted him 30th overall in 2010. A member of Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off, Nelson is considered one of the top two-way centers in the NHL, adept defensively with an offensive game that has seen him top 30 goals in the preceding three seasons.

Through 61 games this season, Nelson has 20 goals and 23 assists for the Islanders, playing on New York's power play and penalty kill. An unrestricted free agent after this season, Nelson and the Islanders had discussions on a new contract through Thursday but were unable to find common ground. Teams such as the Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild were linked to Nelson's availability this season.

The Avalanche are hoping Nelson can fill a hole at No. 2 center, behind star Nathan MacKinnon, that they've had in their lineup since Nazem Kadri left for Calgary as a free agent after Colorado's 2022 Stanley Cup win.

"I know Brock from over the years. Really excited. He's an amazing player," said MacKinnon, who added that he appreciated Colorado's all-in approach.

"We have to. These are our years. There's no other way."

Dufour, 23, has played in 45 games this season for the Bridgeport Islanders (AHL), registering 18 points.

Ritchie, 20, has played seven games this season for Colorado, scoring one goal. He was selected 27th overall in the 2023 draft. He has size (6-foot-2) and was considered one of Colorado's top prospects.

The draft picks in the deal are conditional.

If Colorado's 2026 draft pick is transferred to the Philadelphia Flyers subject to terms of a previous trade, or it is not transferred and is in the top 10 of the 2026 draft, Colorado will send its 2027 first-round pick to New York. The Avalanche sent that lottery-protected pick to Philadelphia in acquiring defenseman Sean Walker last season.

Colorado's conditional 2028 third-round pick will be met should the Avalanche win the 2025 Stanley Cup and Nelson play in at least 50% of his team's playoff games.

This is the second significant deadline move for the Avalanche, who previously acquired defenseman Ryan Lindgren from the Rangers this week.

The Nelson trade could be the first of a handful of moves for the Islanders. Winger Kyle Palmieri is on an expiring contract, and there has been speculation the Islanders could also move veterans such as center Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

LOS ANGELES -- LeBron James' and Luka Doncic's 30-point double-doubles might have jumped off the box score after the Los Angeles Lakers' 113-109 overtime win over the New York Knicks on Thursday, but L.A.'s stars said the victory belonged to their supporting cast.

"I think Gabe [Vincent] won the game with those three 3s in the fourth quarter," Doncic said of the team's backup point guard.

The Lakers trailed by as many as 10 in the fourth quarter -- only the second time during their eight-game winning streak they were down double-digits to an opponent -- when Vincent caught fire.

Vincent, who missed nearly all of last season with a knee injury, hit his first 3 of the fourth to cut the Knicks' lead to five with 5:59 remaining. His next 3, with 2:55 left, cut L.A.'s deficit to one. His third, with 1:21 to go, gave the Lakers a 99-96 advantage, the first time they were up since the second quarter.

"It's part of why I'm here," Vincent said. "Part of why I'm here is what I've done at those moments late in the season. So just try and take the experience I've had and built and just try to continue to keep up with winning games."

The Lakers signed Vincent to a three-year contract in the summer of 2023 when he was coming off an NBA Finals run with the Miami Heat. While injuries derailed the start to his Laker tenure, he's been a valuable performer to the Lakers' turnaround this season on the defensive end -- ranking No. 1 in defensive efficiency in the league since Jan. 30.

Doncic finished with 32 points, 12 assists, 7 rebounds and 4 steals and scored L.A.'s first five points in overtime. James had 31 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists and played 44 of 53 minutes at 40 years old.

But it was Vincent's 12 points, rookie Dalton Knecht's 11 points, backup center Trey Jemison III's seven points and four rebounds and starting center Jaxson Hayes' eight points, five rebounds, two blocks and two clutch free throws to give L.A. a two-point lead with less than a minute left in overtime that received the most praise in the locker room.

"There's no such thing as non-key players on this team," James said. "Everybody is key. And everybody who steps on the floor has a role and they go in and match that. And I thought our bench gave us a great lift once again and Gabe was -- I'll single him out -- he was spectacular. His play both on the defensive end and obviously his shooting, we needed it."

L.A. (40-21) begins a four-game road trip Saturday against the defending champs and franchise rival Boston Celtics.

Austin Reaves, who returned from a two-game absence from a right hamstring injury and struggled with a 2-for-13 shooting night, said that the nature of the win speaks volumes to what kind of team the Lakers are becoming.

"We probably shouldn't have won that game," Reaves said. "It's special to not play the way you want to and still come out and win."

LOS ANGELES -- New York All-Star guard Jalen Brunson could miss an extended period after suffering an ankle injury during overtime in the Knicks' 113-109 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.

Coach Tom Thibodeau said after the game that Brunson was still being examined by the medical staff.

"It's a bummer of an injury," forward Josh Hart said. "We expect him to be out for a little bit."

Brunson -- who is seventh in the league in scoring (26.3 points per game) and eighth in assists (7.4) -- rolled his right ankle with 1:24 remaining in overtime after landing on the foot of Lakers guard Austin Reaves after being fouled on a drive to the basket. Brunson was helped up by teammates and stayed in the game to make both free throws and tie the score at 107. He then went to the locker room.

Brunson led the Knicks with 39 points and 10 assists. He sent the game into overtime with a three-point play after the Lakers rallied from a double-digit deficit midway through the fourth quarter.

"His mental toughness is through the roof," Thibodeau said about Brunson, who was 13 of 26 from the field and made 12 of his 13 foul shots. "It doesn't surprise me the way he played the whole game. He still keeps battling and battling."

Brunson's injury could not come at a worse time for the Knicks. The loss to the Lakers began a five-game West Coast trip.

New York, which is 40-22 and in third place in the Eastern Conference, remains in Southern California to face the Clippers on Friday night before facing Sacramento on Monday night, Portland on Wednesday night and Golden State on March 15.

"It's next man up," center Karl-Anthony Towns said. "He's a huge part of our team. We've been playing with grit and have to go out there and do it again."

NEW YORK -- Stephen Curry took a bounce pass from Jimmy Butler on the edge of the Brooklyn Nets' half-court logo with his back to the Golden State Warriors' basket and three seconds left in the first half Thursday.

Without taking a dribble, Curry launched a turnaround 3-pointer between two Nets defenders from 38 feet that hit the bottom of the net. Even by Curry's standards of burying ridiculous 3-point bombs, the degree of difficulty on this one was high.

Seeing that the shot went in with 0.3 left, Curry ran down the court with his hand raised and straight into the tunnel toward the Warriors locker room.

Curry put on a show in Brooklyn as he scored 40 points and hit seven 3-pointers to help Golden State erase a 22-point deficit and beat the Nets 121-119 before 18,413 at Barclays Center.

By the end, just like at Madison Square Garden in a Warriors' 114-102 win over the Knicks on Tuesday night, much of the road crowd buzzed and roared like a Warriors' home crowd for Curry.

"Most people can make that shot, luckily," Warriors teammate Draymond Green said. "[But] we all knew that shot was going in. It really changes the momentum. I think that's the second time, this road trip, that he's had one changed the momentum like that. It's a big, big momentum shifter for us going into the locker room."

The Warriors completed a five-game East Coast trip 4-1 with their only loss coming in Philadelphia with Butler out because of back spasms. During much of this trip, the Warriors rode Curry's hot hand. He started the stretch in Orlando with a 56-point explosion and 12 3-pointers that was highlighted by a 56-foot running halftime-beating heave near the Magic half-court logo in a 121-115 win.

"I just think the degree of difficulty is so crazy," Green said of Curry's offensive outings on this trip. "You could see a guy score 40 points and be like, 'Man, he had a good game.' But when you see him score 40 points, it is totally different because ... he's literally putting on a show.

"It's like you went and watch a Cirque du Soleil or something. It is not your typical show you're going to watch. It's a whole bunch of different acrobatics that go into it."

On this trip, which included stops in Orlando, Philadelphia, his hometown of Charlotte, Manhattan and Brooklyn, Curry's fans came out and made their voices heard. And Curry tried not to disappoint, averaging 34.8 points and 7.8 assists while hitting 32 3-pointers during that span. He is 11 3-pointers away from extending his record of most 3-pointers made in a career to 4,000.

"Steph just had an incredible trip, put on a show in every city," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "What he does, it's amazing. Just the show that he puts on, the joy that he brings to so many fans who are coming to see him play in all these different cities. Every fan base loves Steph and there's a reason he's an incredible performer."

This one in Brooklyn, though, required a big comeback. The Nets opened the game with a 27-5 lead. But ever since the Warriors acquired Butler, Golden State has been playing with so much confidence.

It completed its second comeback from a deficit of 20 or greater with Butler in the lineup. Before the Butler trade, the Warriors went 1-10 when trailing by 20 or more.

With Butler in the lineup, the Warriors are 10-1 and 35-28 overall. They are in sixth place in the Western Conference standings and three games behind fifth-place Houston. Curry has been revitalized by the addition of Butler, averaging 30.3 points on 51-44-90 shooting splits since Butler's Warriors' debut on Feb. 8, according to ESPN Research.

And the highlight shots just keep coming. Curry said he does not practice the turnaround 3-pointer from the logo that he hit in Brooklyn. He admitted he was a little surprised.

"That one, it's not in the practice routine," Curry said. "But you have an idea of where you are on the court and as weird as it might sound, it was kind of a rhythm shot because you don't really have any other thought other than just try to get it off.

"It did surprise me though. That's why I just ran to the locker room."

NEW YORK -- Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green sent well wishes to New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns after the death of a family friend, but said Thursday he was just relaying what he heard when he said on his podcast that Towns didn't play for the Knicks against Golden State this week because Jimmy Butler was in the building.

Towns was listed out for personal reasons when the Warriors beat the Knicks 114-102 on Tuesday. Green, during his podcast with former NBA player Baron Davis, said that "some would say he didn't play because Jimmy was in the building."

He was referencing the tensions involving Butler and Towns when they were teammates in Minnesota and Butler was seeking a trade.

Green said on the podcast that he talked to Towns' father when he saw him at the game.

"His pops is an incredible man, but they say KAT didn't play because Jimmy came into town, and you know him and Jimmy had the infamous practice in Minnesota," Green said.

Towns rejoined the Knicks in Los Angeles for their game against the Lakers on Thursday and told reporters he had been away from the team to be with his family after the death of a friend.

"This is one of those moments where I had to be there for my family and be there for the kids that lost somebody really special to them," Towns said.

Green was not aware of that until after the Warriors' 121-119 win over Brooklyn on Thursday.

"That's unfortunate, I'm sorry to hear that. That sucks," Green said. "But my comments that I made were, you know, 'People, what I heard was this.' That's what I heard. So I do send my well wishes to him and his family.

"It's inevitable, we all experience death in one way or another, and we'll all experience it in the same way one day. So it's unfortunate, you never wish that on anybody, but 'The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis' must go on."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Outfielder Lawrence Butler and the Athletics are in agreement on a seven-year, $65.5 million contract extension that includes a club option, sources told ESPN on Thursday night, locking up a foundational talent who was one of the best players in baseball in the second half last year.

The deal, which is pending a physical, will keep 24-year-old Butler with the A's well past their planned move to Las Vegas in 2028. Earlier in the offseason, designated hitter Brent Rooker signed a five-year, $60 million extension as well, helping solidify a core the A's hope will lead them back into playoff contention.

Butler was a revelation last year, following a short stint in 2023 during which he struggled and a difficult start to the 2024 season that prompted a demotion to Triple A in mid-May. After he returned June 18, Butler batted .291/.330/.565 with 20 home runs and 15 stolen bases over 330 plate appearances.

Primarily a right fielder, Butler will receive a deal similar to the seven-year, $63.5 million contract given last year to then-22-year-old shortstop Ezequiel Tovar by the Colorado Rockies. The average annual value of Butler's deal is the second highest for a player with one-plus year of major league service, behind only Atlanta's contract with right-hander Spencer Strider.

The A's -- who will play for the next three seasons in West Sacramento after a contentious 2024 in which they left Oakland, where they played for more than half a century -- have spent the past four months spending unlike at any point in franchise history. Before this winter, their largest guarantee on a deal was $66 million given to Eric Chavez more than 20 years ago. In addition to the contracts for Butler and Rooker, the A's reset their franchise high with a three-year, $67 million agreement for free agent right-hander Luis Severino in December. The team needed to spend significant sums over the winter to avoid a potential grievance from the players' association for not putting enough revenue-sharing money into payroll.

Whether the A's can make a run this year in the wide-open American League West depends on Butler, Severino, Rooker, center fielder JJ Bleday, catcher Shea Langeliers, left-handers Jeffrey Springs and JP Sears and All-Star closer Mason Miller. The A's, once regulars in the playoffs, last made the postseason in 2020, with owner John Fisher later drastically cutting payroll amid the move to Las Vegas.

The team is betting on Butler being a significant part of the team that moves there. The contract is guaranteed through 2031 with the club option for 2032.

The Boston Bruins continued their retooling by trading forward Justin Brazeau to the Minnesota Wild on the eve of the NHL trade deadline.

The Wild sent centers Marat Khusnutdinov and Jakub Lauko, as well as a 2026 sixth-round draft pick (originally from Boston), to the Bruins in the trade.

Brazeau, 27, has 10 goals and 10 assists in 54 games this season for the Bruins. Known for his size (6-foot-6, 227 pounds) and play around the net, he averaged 12:58 in ice time per game this season. Brazeau is an unrestricted free agent after this season who makes just $775,000 against the salary cap.

The trade reunites Lauko, 24, with the Bruins, where be played two seasons before being traded to Minnesota in June 2024. Lauko was drafted 77th overall by Boston in the 2018 NHL Draft. He had 3 goals and 3 assists in 38 games with the Wild this season, battling both hip and groin injuries.

Khusnutdinov is in his second NHL season and had 2 goals and 5 assists in 47 games for the Wild, skating 11:14 per game. He had been recently reassigned to the AHL for cap-related reasons after the Wild acquired winger Gustav Nyquist from Nashville.

Both Lauko and Khusnutdinov are restricted free agents after the season.

The Bruins are expected to be sellers before Friday's NHL trade deadline, having already traded Trent Frederic and Max Jones to the Edmonton Oilers this week. All eyes are on captain Brad Marchand, who has been in negotiations on a new contract with Boston ahead of free agency this summer while the Bruins have been listening to trade offers for the star winger.