DiVincenzo scores 26 to lead Timberwolves past Spurs 112-110 despite 34 points from Wembanyama

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Donte DiVincenzo scored 26 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the San Antonio Spurs 112-110 on Sunday night.

Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 15 rebounds for the Timberwolves, won won their third straight. Julius Randle had 16 points, while Jaden McDaniels added 12 points and 10 boards for Minnesota.

Anthony Edwards, who earlier in the day was fined $100,000 for continued use of profanity in postgame media comments, was held to 14 points, 11 below his season average.

After DiVincenzo made one of two free throws with 12.1 seconds left, the Spurs had one more possession down 112-110. San Antonio found a wide-open Jeremy Sochan for 3, but he came up short.

Wembanyama led San Antonio with 34 points and eight rebounds. Harrison Barnes had 24 points, Devin Vassell had 22 and Chris Paul dished out 14 assists.

Spurs: Trailing by 13 early in the third quarter, Wembanyama keyed a 16-4 run by showcasing his diverse offensive skills. He scored in the low post, hit a 3, made a pair of free throws and drained two midrange jumpers.

Timberwolves: Minnesota survived a brutal shooting night from 3-point range, making just 11 of 44 attempts from beyond the arc. DiVincenzo was 5 for 10, but Edwards and Randle combined to go 1 for 16.

With 4:44 to play and the game tied at 101, Randle made a driving layup against Wembanyama that was initially whistled for an offensive foul. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch challenged the call, and the basket was allowed to stand. Minnesota didn't trail the rest of the way.

In the first quarter, the Timberwolves made just 1 of 11 3-point attempts but went 9 for 9 inside the arc.

The Spurs host the Clippers, and the Timberwolves visit Oklahoma City on Tuesday.

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

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley, middle, fouls San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, left, and Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) jump for a tip ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) works toward the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell, left, works toward the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, left, works around Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley, left, celebrates his three-point basket with guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo, left, celebrates his three-point basket as San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, in a letter to conservative supporters rallying outside his Seoul residence, vowed to “fight to the end” against “anti-state forces,” while his legal team claimed on Thursday that police officers attempting to detain him could face arrest by his presidential security service or even civilians.

Yoon’s latest statements of defiance came as the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials prepared to execute its detainment warrant against him, issued by a Seoul court on Tuesday and valid for one week. The warrant was in response to Yoon’s evasion of multiple requests to appear for questioning and blocking searches of his office, hindering an investigation into whether his short-lived power grab on Dec. 3 amounted to rebellion.

Oh Dong-woon, the anti-corruption agency’s chief prosecutor, has indicated that police forces might be deployed if Yoon’s security service resists the detention attempt, which could occur as early as Thursday. But it remains unclear whether Yoon can be compelled to submit to questioning.

Yoon’s legal team issued a statement on Thursday warning that any attempt by the anti-corruption agency to use police mobile units for his detention would exceed their legal authority. The lawyers further said that police officers could face arrest by either the “presidential security service or any citizens” if they try to detain him. They didn’t further elaborate on the claim.

South Korean law permits anyone to make arrests to stop an active crime, and critics accused Yoon of inciting his supporters to obstruct law enforcement’s attempts to detain him.

In a message to hundreds of supporters gathered outside his residence Wednesday evening, Yoon said he would continue to fight against anti-state forces “violating our sovereignty” and putting the nation in “danger.” He applauded his supporters for their efforts to protect the country’s “liberal democracy and constitutional order” and said he was watching their protests on live YouTube broadcasts, according to a photo of the message shared by Yoon’s lawyers.

The liberal opposition Democratic Party, which drove the legislative vote that impeached Yoon on Dec. 14 over the martial law imposition, accused the president of trying to mobilize his supporters to block his detention and called for law enforcement authorities to execute the warrant immediately.

A growing number of Yoon’s supporters were again gathering near his residence on Thursday morning amid a heavy police presence, waving small South Korean and American flags and holding signs opposing his impeachment. There were no immediate reports of clashes or major disturbances.

“The Corruption Investigation Office must detain him immediately, and the presidential security service must cooperate with the lawful execution of the detainment warrant,” said Park Chan-dae, the Democrats’ floor leader.

“They should be aware that obstructing the execution of the detainment warrant could result in punishment for interference with official duties and complicity in rebellion,” he said.

Yoon’s lawyers have argued that the court’s detainment warrant is “invalid,” claiming that the anti-corruption agency lacks legal authority to investigate rebellion charges. They also accuse the court of bypassing a law that says locations potentially linked to military secrets cannot be seized or searched without the consent of the person in charge.

Some experts believe the anti-corruption agency, which is leading a joint investigation with police and military authorities, would not risk clashing with Yoon’s security service, which has said it will provide security to Yoon in accordance with the law. The office may instead issue another summons for Yoon to appear for questioning if they are not able to execute the detainment warrant by Jan. 6.

If Yoon is detained, the anti-corruption agency will have 48 hours to investigate him and either request a warrant for his formal arrest or release him. Yoon’s defense minister, police chief and several top military commanders have already been arrested over their roles in the martial law enactment.

Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended following the National Assembly vote to impeach him on Dec. 14 over his imposition of martial law, which lasted only hours but has triggered weeks of political turmoil, halted high-level diplomacy and rattled financial markets. Yoon’s fate now lies with the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberations on whether to uphold the impeachment and formally remove Yoon from office or reinstate him.

To formally end Yoon’s presidency, at least six justices on the nine-member Constitutional Court must vote in favor.

The National Assembly voted last week to also impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had assumed the role of acting president after Yoon’s powers were suspended, over his reluctance to fill three Constitutional Court vacancies ahead of the court’s review of Yoon’s case.

In the face of growing pressure, the country’s new interim leader, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, appointed two new justices on Tuesday, which possibly increased the chances of the court upholding Yoon’s impeachment.

Cho Han-chang, one of the newly appointed court justices, said Thursday that he begins his job with a “heavy heart.” Jeong Gye-seon, the other new justice, expressed hope that the remaining vacancy would be filled.

Yoon’s imposition of martial law lasted only six hours but triggered huge political turmoil that also halted high-level diplomacy and shocked financial markets. Yoon and his military leadership have been accused of attempting to block the National Assembly from voting to end martial law by sending hundreds of heavily armed troops to encircle the building. Lawmakers who managed to get in voted unanimously 190-0 to lift martial law, hours after Yoon declared it on late-night television.

Yoon has also been accused of ordering defense counterintelligence officials to detain key politicians, including opposition leader Lee Jae-myung and National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik.

Yoon has defended the martial law decree as a necessary act of governance, portraying it as a temporary warning against the Democratic Party, which he has described as an “anti-state” force obstructing his agenda with its legislative majority.

Yoon has also claimed he had no intention to paralyze the functioning of the assembly, saying that the troops were sent to maintain order, and also denied planning to arrest politicians. But some arrested military commanders have contradicted Yoon’s claims.

Supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stage a rally to oppose a court having issued a warrant to detain Yoon, near the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. The signs read, "Oppose impeachment." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stage a rally to oppose a court having issued a warrant to detain Yoon, near the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. The signs read, "Oppose impeachment." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stage a rally to oppose a court having issued a warrant to detain Yoon, near the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stage a rally to oppose a court having issued a warrant to detain Yoon, near the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. The signs read, "Oppose impeachment." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stage a rally to oppose a court having issued a warrant to detain Yoon, near the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. The signs read, "Oppose impeachment." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

FILE - In this photo provided by the South Korean President Office, the country's President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks at the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, Dec. 14, 2024. (South Korean Presidential Office via AP, File)