SAN FRANCISCO: Stephen Curry capped a season-best, 49-points performance by sinking the game- winning free throws in the final seconds as the visiting Golden State Warriors outlasted the San Antonio Spurs 109-108 on Friday in an NBA Cup clash.
The Warriors swept a two-game mini-series in San Antonio over three nights and won for the third time in their past four games overall. Golden State improved to 1-1 in West Group C play in the league’s in-season tournament, while the Spurs fell to 1-1.
San Antonio led by 10 early in the fourth quarter before Curry, Gary Payton II and Brandin Podziemski shot Golden State back in front at 101-100 with 3:37 remaining.
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama jumped over a defender for a tip-in to expand the lead to 108-105 with 1:06 left. Jimmy Butler III’s layup cut the gap to a point, and after a stunning block by Wembanyama and a miss by the Spurs’ De’Aaron Fox, Curry drove the lane and was fouled with 6.4 seconds to play.
Curry made both free throws. After a timeout, San Antonio went back to Fox, whose contested jumper at the buzzer bounced twice on the rim before falling away.
Butler finished with 21 points while Will Richard and Podziemski added 10 each for the Warriors.
Wembanyama led San Antonio with 26 points and 12 rebounds, and Fox had 24 points and 10 assists. Julian Champagnie added 14 points, and Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell hit for 13 and 11, respectively.
San Antonio enjoyed a 20-18 advantage after 12 minutes of play. Golden State knotted the game at 28 on Quinten Post’s 3-pointer with 8:40 to play in the second quarter.
The Warriors grabbed a lead thanks to their long-distance shooting, as 3-pointers by Curry and Podziemski and two from Richard put Golden State up 40-33. San Antonio closed the half on a 10-4 run to get within 47-45 at the break.
Curry’s 18 points led all scorers before halftime. Fox paced the Spurs with 14 first-half points.
Golden State used a 14-6 run to take a 68-66 lead with 3:36 to play in the third. The surge was capped by highlight-reel bank shot from Curry, who was fouled on the attempt and completed a three-point play.
Stephen Curry reels off 49 points as Warriors rally past Spurs
https://arab.news/5nndd
Stephen Curry reels off 49 points as Warriors rally past Spurs
- The Warriors swept a two-game mini-series in San Antonio over three nights and won for the third time in their past four games overall
Muchova beats Mboko in Qatar final to end title drought
- Her title run in Doha will lift her from 19 to 11 in the world rankings
DOHA: Karolina Muchova captured her first WTA 1000 crown and her first title since 2019 with an impressive 6-4, 7-5 victory over Canadian teen sensation Victoria Mboko in the Qatar Open final on Saturday.
After battling back from a set and a break down in the semifinals against Maria Sakkari the previous night, Muchova, 29, was in fierce form against Mboko to clinch the biggest title of her career.
“It’s been a while since I won a tournament, so it’s nice to get that feeling again, to be reminded of that victory feeling again,” said Muchova during the trophy ceremony.
“I’d like to congratulate Victoria; you’re still a teenager but you play with so much maturity. I’m sure you have many titles ahead of you.”
A former French Open finalist, Muchova’s career has been hampered by injuries but she has started 2026 in fine fashion, amassing a 12-2 win-loss record over the past six weeks.
Her title run in Doha will lift her from 19 to 11 in the world rankings, while Mboko guaranteed herself a top-10 debut on Monday by making the final.
Muchova put together a clean opening set, landing an impressive 75 percent of her first serves, and dropping just three points behind that first delivery.
The Czech faced zero break points across the 43-minute set and showcased her prowess at the net to take a solid step toward the title.
Mboko made adjustments on return in the second set, and managed to decode her opponent’s serve to carve a 4-2 gap but her advantage was short-lived as Muchova broke twice and wrapped up the contest in 94 minutes.
The 19-year-old Mboko has the most match wins on the women’s tour this season with 13 to just three defeats. She will rise to No. 10 in the world on Monday.
“It’s not the outcome I wanted but I think there’s many positives to take away,” said Mboko, who was competing in her fourth WTA final, and second at the 1000 level.
