Victor Wembanyama scores 42 points in the Spurs' 133-126 OT victory over the Hawks

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama scored eight of his 42 points in overtime and the San Antonio Spurs outlasted the Atlanta Hawks 133-126 on Thursday night.

Wembanyama was 13 for 24 from the field, going 7 of 15 on 3-pointers. He also had six rebounds, five assists, four blocks and two steals.

De’Andre Hunter scored 27 points for Atlanta. Trae Young had 23 points and 16 assists and Jalen Johnson added 22 points.

Devin Vassell added 23 points for San Antonio, and Jeremy Sochan had 20. Chris Paul scored 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, including a four-point play that helped the Spurs reach overtime.

Vassell returned to the starting lineup for the first time this season after missing the first nine games of the season following offseason foot surgery. His return allowed San Antonio to open with its projected starting lineup for the first time this season.

Hawks: Dyson Daniels, who was averaging 13.4 points, was held to four points on 2-for-6 shooting. Daniels had five rebounds, two assists and a steal.

Spurs: Wembanyama has scored 30-plus points in 13 games over 92 career games. He entered the game averaging 23.7 points per game, topping his 21.4 scoring average last season as a rookie.

The Hawks and the Spurs traded four straight 3-pointers in the final 90 seconds with Atlanta holding a 118-115 lead following 3s by Young, Vassell and Johnson. Paul was fouled on his subsequent 3-pointer and his free throw put San Antonio ahead 119-118 with 57 seconds remaining.

San Antonio opened the second half on a 25-14 run in taking an 85-80 lead after trailing by 11 points in the first half.

Both teams are back in action Saturday night. Atlanta hosts Memphis, and San Antonio remains at home to face Portland.

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Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) reacts as he drives to the basket between San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul, left, and San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Man Hui)

San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (0) attempts a shot against Atlanta Hawks forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Man Hui)

Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela (15) blocks a shot by San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Man Hui)

San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (0) reacts after the Spurs score on the Atlanta Hawks during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Man Hui)

Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher, left, attempts a shot against San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Man Hui)

Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, right, attempts a layup against San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Man Hui)

Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder, center, converses with a game official after a play during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Man Hui)

San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul, right, gets pressure from Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Man Hui)

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) swats at a shot attempt by Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Man Hui)

Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) goes for a shot against San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Man Hui)

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) puts pressure on San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Man Hui)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)