Sochan, Johnson fuel Spurs rally past injury-depleted 76ers, 128-120

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Jeremy Sochan had 23 points, Keldon Johnson added 20 points and the San Antonio Spurs rallied to close on an 11-3 run and beat the injury-depleted Philadelphia 76ers 128-120 on Friday night.

Stephon Castle added 17 points and a season-high 14 assists for San Antonio, which won consecutive games for the first time since Jan. 3.

Quentin Grimes had 25 points and 10 rebounds as Philadelphia dropped its third straight. Justin Edwards added 25 points and Guerschon Yabusele had 23 points and nine rebounds.

San Antonio tied the game at 100 two minutes into the fourth quarter after being outscored 43-27 in the third.

Philadelphia continues to spiral without Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, Jared McCain and Kelly Oubre Jr., losing for the 18th time in its last 21 games.

Maxey missed his 10th straight game with sprains to his lower back and finger, but is nearing a return.

76ers: Former San Antonio guard Lonnie Walker IV had three points in 11 minutes.

Spurs: Sandro Mamukelashvili had two points two days after scoring a career-high 34 points in San Antonio’s 120-105 victory over New York. Mamukelashvili was 7 for 7 on 3-pointers against the Knicks on Wednesday but was 0 for 3 on 3s against the 76ers.

Sochan's alley-oop dunk off a pass from Johnson gave the Spurs a 119-117 lead with 3:14 remaining. It was San Antonio's first lead since blowing a 16-point lead in the third quarter.

San Antonio won consecutive games for the first time since beating the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 31 and Denver on Jan. 3. It was also the first time the Spurs have won consecutive home games since mid-December.

76ers: At Atlanta on Sunday night.

Spurs: At Toronto on Sunday night to open a three-game road trip.

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

San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers forward Guerschon Yabusele (28) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Friday, March 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Philadelphia 76ers forward Guerschon Yabusele (28) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Friday, March 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Philadelphia 76ers forward Guerschon Yabusele (28) celebrates a score against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Friday, March 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) scores over Philadelphia 76ers guard Quentin Grimes (5) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Friday, March 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (0) celebrates as teammate San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan, left, scores over Philadelphia 76ers guard Quentin Grimes (5) and forward Chuma Okeke (18) and during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Friday, March 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (0) celebrate with teammate Jeremy Sochan (10) after scoring against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Friday, March 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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)