SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San Antonio rookie Dylan Harper had a season-high 24 points and the Spurs led for all but 22 seconds in defeating the Washington Wizards 119-94 on Thursday night to rebound from a disappointing loss in the NBA Cup final.
The New York Knicks rallied from an 11-point deficit in the final quarter to beat San Antonio on Tuesday night in Las Vegas to capture the NBA Cup,
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Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George (18) and San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) battle for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Billy Calzada)
San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie, foreground, reacts as his team pulls away against the Washington Wizards during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Billy Calzada)
Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington (7) shoots as San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Billy Calzada)
San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper, front, drives for a layup as Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly, back, and center Alex Sarr, right, defend during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Billy Calzada)
San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet dunks the ball against the Washington Wizards during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Billy Calzada)
The Spurs (19-7) had the optimal opponent to bounce back against in the league-worst Wizards (4-21)
Because the NBA Cup final does not count against the season statistics or standings, San Antonio has won four straight and 11 of 14 .
Spurs center Victor Wembanyama had 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four blocks in 17 minutes. Wembanyama's minutes were restricted in his third game back after missing 12 games due to a calf injury. San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said pregame that Wembanyama's minutes would be restricted Thursday in preparation for him to play Friday in Atlanta on the second night of a back-to-back.
Wembanyama blocked a layup from fellow French center Alex Sarr in the second quarter to extend his streak to 99 consecutive games with a block.
Sarr had 18 points, and Bub Carrington added 17 points.
Bilal Coulibaly made one of two free throws to give Washington its first lead at 58-57 with 10:23 remaining in the third quarter. San Antonio wing Devin Vassell drained a 3-pointer 22 seconds later to spark a 14-2 and the Spurs would extend their lead to 26 points.
Coulibaly finished with just three points.
Vassell added 18 points and Stephon Castle had 17 points for the Spurs.
San Antonio, which had not played at home since beating Memphis on Dec. 2, returns to the road for games at Atlanta and Washington.
Wizards: At Memphis on Saturday.
Spurs: At Atlanta on Friday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George (18) and San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) battle for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Billy Calzada)
San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie, foreground, reacts as his team pulls away against the Washington Wizards during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Billy Calzada)
Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington (7) shoots as San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Billy Calzada)
San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper, front, drives for a layup as Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly, back, and center Alex Sarr, right, defend during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Billy Calzada)
San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet dunks the ball against the Washington Wizards during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Billy Calzada)
STATESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A business jet crashed Thursday while trying to return to a North Carolina airport shortly after takeoff, killing all seven people aboard, including retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family, authorities said.
The Cessna C550 erupted into a large fire when it hit the ground. It had departed Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Charlotte, but soon crashed while trying to return and land, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said.
Flight records show the plane was registered to a company run by Biffle. The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, nor was the reason for the plane's return to the airport in drizzle and cloudy conditions.
Federal Aviation Administration records show Biffle was rated to fly helicopters and single and multi-engine planes. It wasn't clear if Biffle was piloting the plane at the time of the crash.
Biffle was on the plane with his wife, Cristina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, according to the highway patrol and a family statement. Others on the plane were identified as Dennis Dutton, his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth.
“Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives,” the joint family statement said.
Biffle, 55, won more than 50 races across NASCAR’s three circuits, including 19 at the Cup Series level. He also won the Trucks Series championship in 2000 and the Xfinity Series title in 2002.
NASCAR said it was devastated by the news.
“Greg was more than a champion driver; he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and a friend to so many,” NASCAR said. “His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport.”
The plane, bound for Florida, took off from the Statesville airport shortly after 10 a.m., according to tracking data posted by FlightAware.com.
Golfers playing next to the airport were shocked as they witnessed the disaster, even dropping to the ground at the Lakewood Golf Club while the plane was overhead. The ninth hole was covered with debris.
“We were like, ‘Oh my gosh! That’s way too low,’” said Joshua Green of Mooresville. “It was scary.”
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration were investigating.
The Cessna plane, built in 1981, is a popular mid-sized business jet with an excellent reputation, aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti said. It has two engines and typically seats six to eight passengers and two pilots.
In 2024, Biffle was honored for his humanitarian efforts after Hurricane Helene struck the U.S., even using his personal helicopter to deliver aid to flooded, remote western North Carolina.
“The last time I spoke with Cristina, just a couple of weeks ago, she reached out to ask how she could help with relief efforts in Jamaica. That’s who the Biffles were," U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, a Republican from North Carolina, said.
Wadsworth was Biffle's friend and helped him with odd jobs, including delivering supplies to places hit by Hurricane Helene, roommate Benito Howell said.
“He didn’t know how to say no,” Howell said of Wadsworth, who had worked for several NASCAR teams. “He loved everybody. He always tried to help everybody.”
The joint family statement also spoke about Dutton and his son Jack, saying they were "deeply loved as well, and their loss is felt by all who knew them."
With 2025 almost over, there have been 1,331 U.S. crashes this year investigated by the NTSB, from two-seat planes to commercial aircraft, compared to a total of 1,482 in 2024.
Major air disasters around the world in 2025 include the plane-helicopter collision that killed 67 in Washington, the Air India crash that killed 260 in India, and a crash in Russia’s Far East that claimed 48 lives. Fourteen people, including 11 on the ground, died in a UPS cargo plane crash in Kentucky.
Robertson reported from Raleigh, North Carolina. Associated Press writers John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; Jenna Fryer in Charlotte, North Carolina; Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska; Ed White in Detroit; and Sarah Brumfield in Washington contributed to this story.
FILE - Former driver Greg Biffle waves to fans prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Darlington Raceway, Aug. 31, 2025, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley, File)
FILE - Greg Biffle smiles along pit row during qualifying for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Friday, Aug. 31, 2012, in Hampton, Ga. (AP Photo/David Tulis, File)
FILE - Greg Biffle celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner, File)
First responders tend to the scene of a reported plane crash at a regional airport in Statesville, N.C., Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
First responders tend to the scene of a reported plane crash at a regional airport in Statesville, N.C., Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
First responders tend to the scene of a reported plane crash at a regional airport in Statesville, N.C., Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
This screengrab made from video provided by WSOC shows firefighting crews responding to a reported plane crash at a regional airport in Statesville, N.C., erupting in a large fire, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2025. (WSOC via AP)
