Spurs rebound from NBA Cup loss to beat Wizards 119-94

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,

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)

HELSINGBORG, Sweden (AP) — NATO allies and defense officials expressed bewilderment Friday at U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would send 5,000 U.S. troops to Poland just weeks after ordering the same number of forces pulled out of Europe.

The apparent change of mind came after weeks of statements from Trump and his administration about reducing — not increasing — the U.S. military footprint in Europe. Trump's initial order set off a flurry of action among military commanders and left allies already doubtful about America's commitment to Europe's security to ponder what forces they might have to backfill on NATO's eastern flank with Russia and Ukraine.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration said it was reducing levels in Europe by about 5,000 troops, and U.S. officials confirmed about 4,000 service members were no longer rotating into Poland from Germany. The dispatch to Germany of U.S. personnel trained to fire long-range missiles was also halted.

But in a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said he would now send "an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland,” citing his strong ties with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, whom Trump endorsed in elections last year.

“It is confusing indeed, and not always easy to navigate,” Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told reporters Friday at a meeting she was hosting of her NATO counterparts, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Ministers from the Netherlands and Norway were sanguine about Trump’s latest move, as was Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže, who said allies knew the U.S. troop “posture was being reconsidered, and now there is no change of posture. For now.”

U.S. defense officials also expressed confusion. “We just spent the better part of two weeks reacting to the first announcement. We don’t know what this means either,” said one of two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.

But Rubio said Washington’s allies understand that changes in the U.S. troop presence in Europe will come as the Trump administration reevaluates its force needs. “I think there’s a broad recognition that there are going to be eventually less U.S. troops in Europe than there has historically been for a variety of reasons,” he said.

The latest surprise came despite a U.S. pledge to coordinate troop deployments, including one from NATO’s top military officer, U.S. Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, on Wednesday.

Trump's initial announcement that he would withdraw troops came as he fumed over remarks by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said that the U.S. was being “humiliated” by the Iranian leadership and criticized what he called a lack of strategy in that war.

Trump told reporters that the U.S. would be cutting even more than 5,000 and also announced new tariffs on European cars. Germany is the continent’s biggest auto producer.

Rubio insisted that Trump’s decision “is not a punitive thing. It’s just something that’s ongoing.”

About 80,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Europe. The Pentagon is required to keep at least 76,000 troops and major equipment on the continent unless NATO allies are consulted and there is a determination that such a withdrawal is in U.S. interests.

The withdrawal of 5,000 troops might drop numbers below that limit.

But Trump's latest post suggests that troop numbers in Europe would not change. Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski welcomed the decision to send more forces to his country, saying it ensures that “the presence of American troops in Poland will be maintained more or less at previous levels.”

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also welcomed the move. On Thursday, before Trump took to Truth Social again, Rutte had underlined that it was important for Europe to take care of its own security. “We have a process in place. This is normal business,” he told reporters.

At NATO headquarters in Brussels, meanwhile, U.S. officials briefed the allies on the Pentagon's aims for its commitments to the NATO Force Model, which involves contingency planning for Europe’s defense in the event of serious security concerns. It was widely expected that a further reduction of U.S. forces would be coming.

Asked whether any cuts were announced, Rutte said: “I’m afraid it’s much more complicated than that.” He said the procedure “is highly classified” and declined to give details.

Rubio played down concerns about a shift in U.S. force levels in Europe, saying: "Every country has to constantly reevaluate what their needs are, what their commitments are around the world, and how to properly structure that.”

Cook reported from Brussels. Associated Press writer Emma Burrows in London contributed.

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with journalists during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, front second left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, front left, speak with each other during a group photo at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte look at each other as they deliver a statement during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže speaks at the doorstep of the NATO foreign ministers' meeting at Sea U in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte deliver a statement during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks to media at the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives with his wife Jeanette at Malmo Airport, Friday, May 22, 2026, in Malmo-Sturup, Sweden, ahead of a NATO foreign ministers meeting. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, second from left, shakes hands with Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson, as he is greeted by King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, Queen Silvia of Sweden and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Maria Malmer Stenergard, right, before a dinner at Sofiero Castle in Helsingborg, Sweden, Thursday May 21 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)

Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard speaks to media at the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)