NEW YORK (AP) — Mikal Bridges had 25 points, Jalen Brunson scored 24 and the New York Knicks snapped the San Antonio Spurs' 11-game winning streak with a 114-89 victory on Sunday.
After going unbeaten in February, the Spurs were shut down to open March, never recovering from the Knicks' 26-2 run in the first half and losing for the first time since Jan. 31 in Charlotte.
Click to Gallery
San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama, top, shoots over New York Knicks' Og Anunoby (8), left, and Karl-Anthony Towns during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Knicks' Og Anunoby, right, drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs' Harrison Barnes during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Knicks' Og Anunoby, left, blocks a pass headed for San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson reacts after drawing a foul during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs Sunday, March 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Knicks' Mikal Bridges reacts after a three-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs Sunday, March 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Victor Wembanyama bounced back from two quiet offensive games with 25 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks, but a Spurs team that became the first in NBA history to go unbeaten and score at least 110 points in every game while playing at least 10 in a month fell flat after a fast start.
Mohamed Diawara had 14 points off the bench for the Knicks, who also beat the Spurs earlier this season to win the NBA Cup in Las Vegas.
Wembanyama had been limited to 12 points in each of the last two games. He was much sharper Sunday in his first game at Madison Square Garden since finishing with 42 points and 18 rebounds in a loss on Christmas 2024 in his first time playing on the holiday.
But the Spurs couldn't overcome 22 turnovers that led to 24 points and were also outrebounded 54-41.
The Knicks beat the Spurs for the Cup title in December, when they started 23-9 and looked like a contender to play for the more important championship that gets decided in June. They had been only 15-13 since, starting with the Spurs' 134-132 victory on New Year's Eve.
But after missing 14 of their first 18 shots, they were the dominant team against one that had been the NBA's hottest.
The Spurs led 19-7 after Stephon Castle's 3-pointer with 4:05 remaining in the first quarter. But Brunson had 11 points in the final 1:52 to give the Knicks a 22-21 lead after one.
New York opened the second quarter with an 11-0 spurt, with Bridges' basket making it 33-21. New York led by 26.
Spurs: Visit Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Knicks: Visit Toronto on Tuesday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama, top, shoots over New York Knicks' Og Anunoby (8), left, and Karl-Anthony Towns during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Knicks' Og Anunoby, right, drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs' Harrison Barnes during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Knicks' Og Anunoby, left, blocks a pass headed for San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson reacts after drawing a foul during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs Sunday, March 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Knicks' Mikal Bridges reacts after a three-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs Sunday, March 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
BRUSSELS (AP) — Three close allies of the United States said Sunday they are ready to join forces to defend their interests in the Middle East and stop Iran's retaliatory missile and drone strikes following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as others around the world raised concerns that the conflict sparked by coordinated U.S.-Israel attacks could spread into a wider war.
Britain, France and Germany said they were prepared to work with the United States.
“We will take steps to defend our interests and those of our allies in the region, potentially through enabling necessary and proportionate defensive action to destroy Iran’s capability to fire missiles and drones at their source,” their statement said. “We have agreed to work together with the US and allies in the region on this matter.”
Massive explosions rocked the Iranian capital for a second day as Israel's military said it was targeting the “heart” of Tehran. Iran pressed on, targeting Israel and U.S. military bases in Gulf states.
Iranian officials hurried to plan a future after the death of Khamenei, who had no designated successor, as some Iranians who had long suffered from political repression celebrated.
On streets around the world, there were protests in outrage or bursts of celebration.
The statement by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said they are “appalled” by Iran’s “reckless” strikes on their allies, which threaten their service members and citizens in the region.
A drone strike damaged a hangar at a French naval base at the port of Abu Dhabi, France's defense minister said. British Defense Minister John Healey said Iranian missile and drone strikes came within a few hundred yards (meters) of a group of 300 British military personnel in Bahrain.
Healey also said two missiles were fired in the direction of Cyprus, where the U.K. has bases, though a Cyprus government spokesman said on social media those reports were not valid.
Top diplomats from the 27 European Union nations were holding an emergency meeting to discuss the situation and next steps for the bloc.
“The death of Ali Khamenei is a defining moment in Iran’s history. What comes next is uncertain,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said. “But there is now an open path to a different Iran, one that its people may have greater freedom to shape.”
Pope Leo XIV said he was “profoundly concerned” about the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and urged both sides to “stop the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable abyss.”
Perhaps cautious about upsetting already strained relations with U.S. President Donald Trump, many nations, including several in the Middle East, refrained from commenting directly or pointedly on the joint strikes but condemned Tehran’s retaliation.
The 22-nation Arab League called the Iranian attacks “a blatant violation of the sovereignty of countries that advocate for peace and strive for stability.” That coalition of nations has historically condemned both Israel and Iran for actions it says risk destabilizing the region.
“Return to your senses ... and deal with your neighbors with reason and responsibility before the circle of isolation and escalation widens,” Anwar Gargash, an adviser to the United Arab Emirates’ president, told the Iranian theocracy.
The UAE closed its embassy in Iran and announced the withdrawal of its diplomatic mission after Iranian strikes hit the country.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin blasted Khamenei’s killing, which he called “a cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law."
“The blatant killing of the leader of a sovereign state and the incitement of regime change are unacceptable,” China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a phone call with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, according to China’s official Xinhua News Agency. “These actions violate international law and the basic norms governing international relations.”
Wang said attacking a sovereign state without U.N. Security Council authorization undermines the foundation for peace established after World War II.
At least 22 people were killed in clashes with police in northern Pakistan and in the southern port city of Karachi after hundreds of protesters stormed the U.S. Consulate there, authorities said.
In Iraq, hundreds wore black and waved flags belonging to Iran-backed Iraqi militias and red flags that symbolize vengeance in the Shiite Muslim faith as they marched across Sadr City to decry the killing of Khamenei.
Anger flashed at protests in Istanbul and among Shiite Muslims in India.
Demonstrations were also held in cities including New York, Berlin, Paris and Vienna by members of the Iranian diaspora and their supporters, celebrating the end of Khamenei’s rule. Some demonstrators waved flags of the Iranian monarchy, with Israeli and U.S. flags also on display.
Ciobanu reported from Warsaw and Metz from Ramallah, West Bank. Reporters around the world contributed to this report.
Security forces fire tear gas to disperse a protest against U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, at a bridge leading to the fortified Green Zone where the U.S. Embassy is located in Baghdad, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz issues a statement on the latest developments in the Middle East at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Demonstrators burn a picture of President Donald Trump during a protest outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Shiite Muslims set a fire at the U.S. Consulate's entrance gate during a rally to condemn the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Lahore, Pakistan, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)
A woman cries as she mourns the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during a gather in the southern Suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Shiite Muslims protest against the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran and killing of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in New Delhi, India, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Piyush Nagpal)
Iranian people attend a demonstration in support of the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
People march during a protest in New York, on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, against U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. (AP Photo/Kena Betancur)
Iranian people attend a demonstration in support of the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Iranian people attend a demonstration in support of the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Smoke rises up after a strike in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
A protester holds a crown in London, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026 after U.S. and Israeli forces carried out a series of strikes on Iran on Saturday morning. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaks before media members as he visits facilities of Siemens Energy during his official visit, in Hangzhou, China, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (Andres Martinez Casares/Pool Photo via AP)
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks with students and staff, during a visit to the Walbottle Academy Campus in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (Scott Heppell/PA via AP)
