SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 34 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists for his first triple-double of the season, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Sacramento Kings 127-125 on Sunday for their fifth win in six games.
Devin Vassell added 21 points off the bench for San Antonio. Chris Paul finished with 13 points.
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San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (0) shoots against Sacramento Kings center Isaac Jones (17) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots against Sacramento Kings center Isaac Jones (17) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates after defeating the Sacramento Kings in an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) shoots against Sacramento Kings forward Jae Crowder (99) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown yells to his team during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) drives to the basket against Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (11) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots over Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (13) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots against Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (0) and forward Domantas Sabonis (11) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
DeRozan had 28 points to lead the Kings, who led by 17 points in the first quarter and were up 65-58 at halftime.
The Spurs used a 19-7 run to take a third-quarter lead, but the Kings responded to lead 97-92 heading into the fourth.
Wembanyama finished with five 3-pointers and had 13 points in the fourth quarter. With the Spurs ahead by two, Paul made a 3-pointer with 20 seconds remaining.
Keldon Johnson split free throws with the Spurs ahead by two with 9 seconds left, but got his own offensive rebound. Paul made two free throws with 5.5 seconds to go to put San Antonio up five, and Domantas Sabonis hit a 3-pointer for Sacramento at the buzzer for the final margin.
Spurs: The Spurs shot their way back into the game from distance with 23 three-pointers made, a franchise record. They were 23 for 46 from 3-point range.
Kings: Sacramento has lost six of seven to fall to a season-low three games under .500.
Wembanyama grabbed an offensive rebound that led to a 3-pointer by Vassell to give the Spurs a 121-115 lead with under two minutes left.
The Spurs’ defense responded after giving up 42 points in the first quarter, a season high for points in a quarter for the Kings. Sacramento shot over 70 percent from the floor in the quarter.
Spurs visit Phoenix on Tuesday, and Kings host Houston.
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San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (0) shoots against Sacramento Kings center Isaac Jones (17) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots against Sacramento Kings center Isaac Jones (17) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates after defeating the Sacramento Kings in an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) shoots against Sacramento Kings forward Jae Crowder (99) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown yells to his team during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) drives to the basket against Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (11) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots over Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (13) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots against Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (0) and forward Domantas Sabonis (11) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — A third night of protests in the Georgian capital against the government’s decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union left 44 people hospitalized, officials said Sunday.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the parliament Saturday night, throwing stones and setting off fireworks, while police deployed water cannons and tear gas. An effigy of the founder of the governing Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili — a shadowy billionaire who made his fortune in Russia — was burned in front of the legislature.
Georgia’s Interior Ministry said Sunday that 27 protesters, 16 police and one media worker were hospitalized.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze warned that “any violation of the law will be met with the full rigor of the law.”
"Neither will those politicians who hide in their offices and sacrifice members of their violent groups to severe punishment escape responsibility,” he said at a briefing Sunday.
He insisted it wasn't true that Georgia’s European integration had been halted. "The only thing we have rejected is the shameful and offensive blackmail, which was, in fact, a significant obstacle to our country’s European integration.” The government’s announcement came hours after the European Parliament adopted a resolution criticizing last month’s general election in Georgia as neither free nor fair.
Kobakhidze also dismissed the U.S. State Department’s statement Saturday that it was suspending its strategic partnership with Georgia. The statement condemned Georgia’s decision to halt its efforts toward EU accession.
“You can see that the outgoing administration is trying to leave the new administration with as difficult a legacy as possible. They are doing this regarding Ukraine, and now also concerning Georgia,” Kobakhidze said. “This will not have any fundamental significance. We will wait for the new administration and discuss everything with them.”
Kobakhidze also confirmed that Georgia’s ambassador to the U.S., David Zalkaliani, had become the latest of a number of diplomats to stand down since the protests started.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and enlargement commissioner Marta Kos released a joint statement Sunday on the Georgian government’s decision to suspend negotiations.
“We note that this announcement marks a shift from the policies of all previous Georgian governments and the European aspirations of the vast majority of the Georgian people, as enshrined in the Constitution of Georgia,” the statement said.
It reiterated the EU's “serious concerns about the continuous democratic backsliding of the country” and urged Georgian authorities to “respect the right to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, and refrain from using force against peaceful protesters, politicians and media representatives.”
The ruling Georgian Dream party’s disputed victory in the Oct. 26 parliamentary election, which was widely seen as a referendum on Georgia’s aspirations to join the EU, has sparked major demonstrations and led to an opposition boycott of parliament.
The opposition has said that the vote was rigged with the help of Russia, Georgia’s former imperial master, with Moscow hoping to keep Tbilisi in its orbit.
Speaking to The Associated Press on Saturday, Georgia's pro-Western President Salome Zourabichvili said that her country was becoming a “quasi-Russian” state and that Georgian Dream controlled the major institutions.
“We are not demanding a revolution. We are asking for new elections, but in conditions that will ensure that the will of the people will not be misrepresented or stolen again,” Zourabichvili said.
The EU granted Georgia candidate status in December 2023 on condition that it meet the bloc’s recommendations, but put its accession on hold and cut financial support earlier this year after the passage of a “foreign influence” law widely seen as a blow to democratic freedoms.
Police use a water cannon to block protesters holding Georgian national flags during a rally against the governments' decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years, outside the parliament's building in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
A demonstrator fires a firecracker towards police during a rally against the government's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years, outside the parliament's building in Tbilisi, Georgia, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
A demonstrator uses a firecrackers against police during a rally against the government's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years, outside the parliament in Tbilisi, Georgia, early Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Police block a street to prevent protesters during a rally against the government's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years, outside the parliament in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Police use a water cannon to block protesters during a rally against the governments' decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years, outside the parliament's building in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Protesters with Georgian national flags shout toward police during a rally against the governments' decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years, outside the parliament's building in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Police officers detain a demonstrator at a subway station during a rally against the government's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years in Tbilisi, Georgia, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Demonstrators go down an escalator to hide from the police in a subway station during a rally against the government's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years in Tbilisi, Georgia, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Demonstrators run to hide from the police in a subway station during a rally against the government's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years in Tbilisi, Georgia, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Police use a water cannon on protesters during a rally against the government's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years, outside the parliament's building in Tbilisi, Georgia, early Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
A masked demonstrator throws an object toward police during a rally against the governments' decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years, outside the parliament's building in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Police officers detain journalist Giorgi Chamelishvili during a rally against the government's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years, outside the parliament's building in Tbilisi, Georgia, early Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Police officers detain demonstrators at a subway station during a rally against the government's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years in Tbilisi, Georgia, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
A demonstrator uses firecrackers against police as protesters rally against the government's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years, outside the parliament's building in Tbilisi, Georgia, early on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Demonstrators stand near a fire during a rally outside the parliament's building to protest the government's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years in Tbilisi, Georgia, early Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
A demonstrator runs through tear gas clouds during a rally outside the parliament's building to protest the government's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years in Tbilisi, Georgia, early Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Protesters run away from police as they rally against the governments' decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years, outside the parliament's building in Tbilisi, Georgia, early on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Police block a street against protesters rallying against the governments' decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years, outside the parliament's building in Tbilisi, Georgia, early on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Police block a street to prevent protesters rallying against the governments' decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years, outside the parliament's building in Tbilisi, Georgia, early on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Two women hold an EU and Georgian national flag as protesters rally against the governments' decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years, outside the parliament's building in Tbilisi, Georgia, early Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
A demonstrator gestures as police block a street as protesters rally against the government's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years, outside the parliament's building in Tbilisi, Georgia, early Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Demonstrators fire a firecracker towards police during a rally against the government's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years, outside the parliament's building in Tbilisi, Georgia, early Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Demonstrators use firecrackers against police during a rally against the government's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years, outside the parliament's building in Tbilisi, Georgia, early Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
