Julius Randle has a triple-double to lead the Timberwolves past the winless Nets

NEW YORK (AP) — Julius Randle had 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in his 15th career triple-double, and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the winless Brooklyn Nets 125-109 on Monday night.

Donte DiVincenzo scored 25 points, Jaden McDaniels finished with 22 and Rudy Gobert added 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who won their two straight.

Randle had his first triple-double with the Wolves.

Cam Thomas had 25 points and Nic Claxton chipped in 19 for the Nets, who fell to 0-7. The Nets opened the 2009-10 campaign with 18 straight losses while playing in New Jersey, two seasons before their move to Brooklyn.

Playing once again without All-Star guard Anthony Edwards (hamstring), Minnesota led by 12 points with 9:09 to play in the third quarter before the Nets answered with a 24-13 run.

Ziaire Williams hit a 3-pointer from the left wing and was fouled by Randle before his free throw put Brooklyn ahead 88-87 with 1:57 remaining.

The Timberwolves took advantage of four straight missed shots and two turnovers as Randle scored four points for a 91-88 advantage at the end of the period.

Minnesota then opened the fourth quarter with a 6-0 run while the Nets misfired on three consecutive shots to increase the lead to 97-88, and eventually put the game out of reach.

The Timberwolves shot 56% from the field and 41% from 3-point range while outrebounding Brooklyn 53-40.

Michael Porter Jr. didn't play for the Nets because of personal reasons.

Timberwolves: Remain in New York and will play the Knicks on Wednesday.

Nets: Visit the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.

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

Brooklyn Nets' Ziaire Williams (1) drives past Minnesota Timberwolves' Donte DiVincenzo (0) and Jaden McDaniels (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, at Barclays Center in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Brooklyn Nets' Nic Claxton, right, dunks the ball in front of Minnesota Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, at Barclays Center in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Brooklyn Nets' Tyrese Martin, center, shoots over Minnesota Timberwolves' Mike Conley, left, and Rudy Gobert during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, at Barclays Center in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Brooklyn Nets' Jalen Wilson (22) defends Minnesota Timberwolves' Mike Conley (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, at Barclays Center in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Minnesota Timberwolves' Julius Randle, center, shoots over Brooklyn Nets' Ziaire Williams, left, Day'Ron Sharpe, right, and Jalen Wilson, below during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, at Barclays Center in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran closed its airspace to commercial flights for hours without explanation early Thursday as tensions remained high with the United States over Tehran’s bloody crackdown on nationwide protests.

The closure ran for over four hours, according to pilot guidance issued by Iran, which lies on a key East-West flight route. International carriers diverted north and south around Iran, but after one extension, the closure appeared to have expired and several domestic flights were in the air just after 7 a.m.

Iran previously shut its airspace during the 12-day war against Israel in June and when it exchanged fire with Israel during the Israel-Hamas war. However, there were no signs of current hostilities though the closure immediately rippled through global aviation because Iran is located on a key East-West route for airlines.

“Several airlines have already reduced or suspended services, and most carriers are avoiding Iranian airspace,” said the website SafeAirspace, which provides information on conflict areas and air travel. “The situation may signal further security or military activity, including the risk of missile launches or heightened air defense, increasing the risk of misidentification of civil traffic.”

Iran in the past has misidentified a commercial aircraft as a hostile target. In 2020, Iranian air defense shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 with two surface-to-air missiles, killing all 176 people on board. Iran for days adamantly dismissed allegations of downing the plane as Western propaganda before finally acknowledging it.

The airspace closure came as some personnel at a key U.S. military base in Qatar were advised to evacuate. The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait also ordered its personnel to “temporary halt” going to the multiple military bases in the small Gulf Arab country.

U.S. President Donald Trump made a series of vague statements Wednesday that left unclear what American action, if any, would take place against Iran.

In comments to reporters, Trump said he had been told that plans for executions in Iran have stopped, without providing many details. The shift comes a day after Trump told protesters in Iran that “help is on the way” and that his administration would “act accordingly” to respond to the Islamic Republic’s deadly crackdown.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also sought to tone down the rhetoric, urging the U.S. to find a solution through negotiation.

Asked by Fox News what he would say to Trump, Araghchi said: “My message is: Between war and diplomacy, diplomacy is a better way, although we don’t have any positive experience from the United States. But still diplomacy is much better than war.”

The change in tone by the U.S. and Iran came hours after the chief of the Iranian judiciary said the government must act quickly to punish the thousands who have been detained.

Activists warned that hangings of detainees could come soon. The security forces’ crackdown on the demonstrations has killed at least 2,615, the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported. The death toll exceeds that of any other round of protest or unrest in Iran in decades and recalls the chaos surrounding the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Demonstrators burn a poster depicting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a rally in support of anti-government protests in Iran, in Holon, Israel Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

A woman mourns next to the flag-draped coffins of a group of security forces, who were killed during anti-government protests, during their funeral ceremony, in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

A man hands out posters of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a funeral ceremony for a group of security forces, who were killed during anti-government protests, in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

People take part in a rally in support of anti-government protests in Iran, Berlin Germany, Wednesday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Policemen protect the British Embassy during a protest by hardline supporters of the Iranian government, as people ride on their motorbike in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)