Fox has 32 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds in Spurs' win over injury-depleted Mavs

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — De'Aaron Fox had 32 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds and the San Antonio Spurs snapped a three-game skid, beating the injury-depleted Dallas Mavericks 126-116 on Wednesday night.

Dallas (33-34) remained 10th in the Western Conference, holding the final spot for the play-in tournament by 2 1/2 games over Phoenix.

Fox was 12 for 25 from the field in his highest-scoring game since joining San Antonio in a trade with Sacramento on Feb. 5.

Keldon Johnson and Jeremy Sochan each had 18 points off the bench for San Antonio. Devin Vassell added 16.

Brandon Williams returned from a one-game absence to lead Dallas with 19 points. Dante Exum added 17 and Naji Marshall and Kessler Edwards had 15 each.

The Mavericks beat the Spurs 133-129 on Monday to snap a five-game skid.

Dallas only had nine active players Wednesday as the team remains without Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis among others.

The Mavericks closed the first quarter on a 19-4 run in taking a 28-20 lead. Dallas extended the lead to 11 points in the second quarter while shooting 60% from the field.

San Antonio had eight turnovers in the opening quarter but only 16 for the game.

Mavericks: Williams returned after missing Monday's game with a hamstring injury. Williams was 6 for 12 from the field and played 28 minutes.

Spurs: Point guard Chris Paul played in 1,336th career game to pass Hall of Famer Gary Payton for 17th in league history.

San Antonio took an 82-73 lead midway through the third on an 8-0 run capped by a dunk and 3-pointer from Fox. He had 11 points in the third.

San Antonio is 4-8 since losing All-Star center Victor Wembanyama for the season on Feb. 20 due to a blood clot in his right shoulder.

Both teams play Friday night. The Mavericks are at Houston. The Spurs host Charlotte.

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

Dallas Mavericks forward Caleb Martin (16) leaps towards the basket as he looks to pass against San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Dallas Mavericks forward Kessler Edwards, center, is blocked as he drives to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox (4) drives to the basket against Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall (13) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (0) scores against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd argues a call during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox (4) scores over Dallas Mavericks guard Dante Exum (0) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs acting head coach Mitch Johnson, left, and San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, right, watch a replay during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in San Antonio, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) dives for a loose ball in front of Dallas Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox (4) scores past Dallas Mavericks forward Caleb Martin (16) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Dallas Mavericks forward Kessler Edwards (20) is blocked by San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) as he drives to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday ordered President Donald Trump's administration to reinstate thousands — if not tens of thousands — of probationary workers let go in mass firings across multiple agencies last month, saying that the terminations were directed by a personnel office that had no authority to do so.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco ordered the departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, the Interior and the Treasury to immediately offer reinstatement to employees terminated on or about Feb. 13 and 14 using guidance from the Office of Personnel Management and its acting director, Charles Ezell.

Alsup directed the agencies to report back within seven days with a list of probationary employees and an explanation of how the departments complied with his order as to each person.

The temporary restraining order came in a lawsuit filed by a coalition of labor unions and organizations as the Republican administration moves to dramatically downsize the federal workforce.

The White House and the Department of Justice did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

Alsup expressed frustration with what he called the government's attempt to sidestep laws and regulations governing a reduction in its workforce — which it is allowed to do — by firing probationary workers who lack protections. He was appalled that employees were fired for poor performance despite receiving glowing evaluations just months earlier.

“It is sad, a sad day, when our government would fire some good employee and say it was based on performance when they know good and well that’s a lie," he said. “That should not have been done in our country.”

Lawyers for the government maintain the mass firings were lawful because individual agencies reviewed and determined whether employees on probation were fit for continued employment.

But Alsup has found that difficult to believe. He planned to hold an evidentiary hearing Thursday, but Ezell, the OPM acting director, did not appear to testify in court or even sit for a deposition. The judge encouraged the government to appeal.

There are an estimated 200,000 probationary workers across federal agencies. They include entry level employees but also workers who recently received a promotion.

About 15,000 are employed in California, providing services ranging from fire prevention to veterans’ care, according to the lawsuit filed by the coalition of labor unions and nonprofit organizations.

The plaintiffs said in their complaint that numerous agencies informed workers that the personnel office had ordered the terminations, with an order to use a template email informing workers their firing was for performance reasons.

President Donald Trump speaks during an event with Ireland's Prime Minister Micheál Martin in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)