Curry scores season-high 49 points as Warriors beat Wembanyama, Spurs 109-108 in NBA Cup

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Stephen Curry had 49 points, outdueling Victor Wembanyama in another intense battle and the Golden State Warriors rallied to beat the San Antonio Spurs 109-108 on Friday night for their first win in the NBA Cup.

Wembanyama had 26 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 38 minutes but San Antonio fell to 1-1 in the NBA Cup.

Curry had 31 points in the second half, including a pair of free throws with six seconds left that proved the difference. He was 16 for 26 from the field and 9 for 17 on 3-pointers in his highest-scoring game of the season.

Curry tied Hall of Famer Michael Jordan for the most 40-point games after 30 years old in league history with 44.

The Warriors swept the two-game set in San Antonio, rallying in the fourth quarter to win both games.

Golden State coach Steve Kerr said playing back-to-back games in San Antonio gave the game had a playoff feel and it played out like one.

Officials had to separate Draymond Green and Wembanyama three times as they muscled for position on an inbounds play four minutes in the fourth quarter. Wembanyama would dunk on Green on an inbounds alley-oop but officials waved off the basket because Green fouled the Spurs' center prior to the attempt. Green collected his fifth foul seconds later on the next inbounds, storming off the court and screaming at officials over the whistle.

Wembanyama blocked Jimmy Butler's layup attempt with 33 seconds remaining and the Spurs leading 108-107. San Antonio failed to capitalize offensively as De'Aaron Fox missed a 17 footer with 12 seconds remaining.

Curry was fouled by Fox on the ensuing possession and calmly drained both free throws to put the Warriors ahead by one point. Fox missed an 18-foot jumper as time expired.

Fox finished with 24 points and 10 assists and Julian Champagnie added 14 points.

Butler added 21 points and Brandin Podziemski and Will Richard added 10 each for Golden State.

Warriors play Sunday at New Orleans.

Spurs host Sacramento on Sunday.

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

Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (10) shoots past San Antonio Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox (4) during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game in San Antonio, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) trade words during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game in San Antonio, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) is blocked by Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game in San Antonio, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game in San Antonio, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department will permanently close the U.S. consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, which has been America’s closest diplomatic mission to the Afghan border and was a primary operations and logistics point before, during and after the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan.

The department notified Congress this week of its intent to close the consulate and said it would save $7.5 million per year, while not adversely affecting its ability to advance U.S. national interests in Pakistan, according to a copy of the notification obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The move has been under consideration for more than a year since the Trump administration began downsizing nearly all federal agencies and is not related to the Iran war, which has sparked protests in various Pakistani cities, including Karachi and Peshawar, where the U.S. consulates temporarily suspended operations.

The administration's cuts to the State Department last year included the dismissal of several thousand diplomatic personnel and the near wholesale firing of staffers with the U.S. Agency for International Development, which it entirely dismantled. The Peshawar consulate, however, is the first overseas diplomatic mission to be closed down entirely because of the State Department's reorganization.

The Peshawar consulate employs 18 American diplomats and other government personnel and 89 local staff, according to the notice, which is dated Tuesday and said the department would spend $3 million to close it down. More than half of that amount, $1.8 million, would pay for the relocation of armored trailers that had served as temporary office space, it said.

The rest will go toward moving the consulate's motor pool fleet, electronic and telecommunications equipment and office furniture to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the remaining consulates in Karachi and Lahore, the notice said.

Because of its proximity to the Afghan border and Kabul, the Peshawar consulate had been a key jumping-off facility for overland travel into Afghanistan as well as a point of contact for American citizens in northwestern Pakistan and Afghan nationals seeking U.S. assistance.

The notification said consular services for American citizens and others would be handled by the embassy in Islamabad, which is about 114 miles (184 kilometers) away.

“The closure would not adversely affect the mission’s ability to advance core U.S. national interests, assist U.S. citizens, or to conduct adequate oversight of foreign assistance programs because all of those functions would continue to be performed by U.S. Embassy Islamabad," it said.

Paramilitary soldiers and police officers walk past a burning police's armoured vehicle, which was set on fire by Shiite Muslims during a protest over the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Karachi, Pakistan, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Muhammad Farooq)

Pakistani security officers stand guard to ensure security outside the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Raza)

Shiite Muslims burn representation of U.S. Indian and Israeli flags during a procession, in Karachi, Pakistan, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Raza)

Muslim worshippers arrive to observes "Itikaf," during the last ten days of the Islamic fasting on month of Ramadan, at a mosque, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad)