Wembanyama fuels early surge in late start as Spurs overcome travel woes to beat Magic

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 25 points, eight rebounds and five blocks and San Antonio beat the Orlando Magic 112-103 on Sunday night in a game that started five hours late because of the Spurs' travel woes.

The Spurs were scheduled to leave Charlotte following a 111-106 loss Saturday, but had to stay overnight because of the storm that dropped nearly a foot of snow. The team then had a mechanical issue on its flight.

Devin Vassell added 16 points for San Antonio. Dylan Harper had 15 points, and De'Aaron Fox had 14 points and 10 assists.

Desmond Bane scored 25 points for Orlando, and Paolo Banchero had 19 points and 10 rebounds. Orlando had won two in a row.

The Magic had been in San Antonio since Saturday after a 130-120 home victory over Toronto. The Spurs weren't so lucky.

The game was scheduled to start at 3 p.m. but was pushed back to 6 p.m. and then 8 p.m. as the Spurs returned home nearly 24 hours later than planned.

The delayed start did not hinder the Spurs as they made their first three shots and seven of their first eight in building a double-digit lead five minutes in, Wembanyama made his first two attempts, forcing his way past Wendell Carter Jr. in the lane for a finger-roll layup and a two-handed slam.

Wembanyama was cleared to play a half hour before tipoff after being questionable due to left calf soreness.

San Antonio guard Stephon Castle missed the game with left adductor tightness.

Magic: At Oklahoma City on Tuesday night.

Spurs: Host Oklahoma City on Wednesday night.

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

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) drives against Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) jumps to save a loose ball from going out of bounds during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) shoots over San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) scores against the Orlando Magic during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) scores over Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

CARTAGO, Costa Rica (AP) — Preliminary and partial results showed the Costa Rican president’s handpicked successor, Laura Fernández, poised to win the presidency in a crowded field after Sunday's election.

The Supreme Electoral Tribunal reported that with votes from 81% of polling places tallied, conservative populist Laura Fernández of the Sovereign People's Party had 48.9% of the vote. Her closest challenger was economist Álvaro Ramos of the National Liberation Party with 33%.

Ramos conceded Sunday night and pledged to lead a “constructive opposition,” but one that would not let those in power get away with anything.

“In democracy dissent is allowed, criticizing is allowed,” he said.

At least 40% of the total vote is required to win the presidential election in the first round. Otherwise, the top two candidates will go to a runoff on April 5.

Fernández campaigned on continuing the policies of term-limited President Rodrigo Chaves.

The historically peaceful Central American nation’s crime surge in recent years could be a deciding factor for many voters. Some fault Chaves' presidency for failing to bring those rates down, but many see his confrontational style as the best chance for Costa Rica to tame the violence.

Fernández was previously Chaves’ minister of national planning and economic policy and, more recently, his minister of the presidency.

She is Chaves' favored successor and was considered the frontrunner headed into Sunday's election.

Costa Ricans also voted for the 57-seat National Assembly. Chaves’ party is expected to make gains, but perhaps not achieve the supermajority he and Fernández have called for, which would allow their party to choose Supreme Court magistrates, for example.

Twenty contenders were seeking the presidency, but no candidate other than Fernández and Ramos reached 5% in the preliminary and partial results.

Some 3.7 million Costa Ricans are eligible to vote. They began casting their ballots at 6 a.m. Sunday and voting continued until 6 p.m.

Ronald Loaiza, an electrical engineer, was one of the first to vote amid rain and cold early Sunday at a school in Cartago, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) east of San Jose. He came early so that he could accompany his father to vote later in another town.

“I hope that it’s a democratic celebration, that the people come out to vote,” he said. “It’s very important that we exercise the right that this country gives us, that we’re conscious of our democracy.”

Four years ago, Chaves ran an outsider campaign that carried him to victory over the country's traditional parties, despite the fact that he had briefly served as economy minister in a previous administration. His framing of traditional parties as corrupt and self-interested resonated in a country with high unemployment and a soaring budget deficit.

FILE - Costa Rica President Rodrigo Chaves attends the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)

Costa Rica's presidential candidate Laura Fernandez prepares to cast her vote at a polling station in Cartago, Costa Rica, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Carlos Borbon)

FILE - Costa Rica's former finance minister Rodrigo Chaves speaks to supporters at his headquarters in San Jose, Costa Rica, after winning a presidential runoff election, April 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Carlos Gonzalez, File)

Costa Rica's presidential candidate Laura Fernandez prepares to cast her vote at a polling station in Cartago, Costa Rica, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Carlos Borbon)