By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
Fueling a third straight win in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season for the San Antonio Spurs, French Victor Wembanyama posted a double-double in a 135-123 victory versus the Dallas Mavericks in American Airlines Center. The 22-year-old French center logged 34:27, delivering 29 points on 9/14 from the field, including five three-pointers, to go with 11 rebounds, six assists, three blocks, and two steals. “I like that we had a little moment that was not as good as the rest of the game, but we stayed pretty solid on defense, even though it could have been better, and we went back to what we know offensive, because at some point we were just doing whatever,” mentioned Wemby in a postgame press conference, describing the final minutes of Thursday’s game. Polish teammate Jeremy Sochan (left quad strain) remained out.
In his first appearance with the Chicago Bulls, French Guerschon Yabusele lasted 33:14 off the bench for a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double plus three assists and two steals in a loss, 123-107, to the Toronto Raptors. Fellow French addition, Ousmane Dieng (not with team), was out, alongside another French option in Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery), but Lithuanian Matas Buzelis retained his starting spot with 18 points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block over 32:36 in Scotiabank Arena. For the team coached by Serbian Darko Rajakovic, Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili threw in 17 points, five rebounds, three steals, one block, and one assist through 23:18, with Austrian Jakob Poeltl (lower back strain) stuck on the injury report.
Returning to absence after a multi-week absence due to injury, Serbian Tristan Vukcevic dropped 14 points, three assists, three rebounds, two blocks, and one steal in 11:09, pushing the Washington Wizards to an upset, 126-117, of the Detroit Pistons in Little Caesars Arena. French starting teammates ranged from Alex Sarr at 12 points, six rebounds, one block, and one assist over 18:01 to Bilal Coulibaly at 11 points, five rebounds, four assists, one block, and one steal over 36:14. On the wrong end, Swedish Bobi Klintman did not play, and Croatian newcomer Dario Saric (not with team) was unavailable.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s game-winner lifted the Atlanta Hawks over the Utah Jazz, 121-119, in State Farm Arena. French starter Zaccharie Risacher went 0/8 in a scoreless showing over 19:15, besides six rebounds and one steal, and Serbian Nikola Djurisic remained on assignment with the G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks. For the visitors, Finnish starter Lauri Markkanen got 18 points, five rebounds, one steal, and one assist over 23:26, with Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk at 14 points and four rebounds in 22:42, and Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic staying on the bench.
Turkish Alperen Sengun was limited to 3/11 shots and seven points, besides nine rebounds, five assists, and one block in 27:49, as the Houston Rockets surrendered to the Charlotte Hornets, 109-99, in Toyota Center. Swiss backup Clint Capela had six points, five rebounds, and two steals over 17:16. Starting on the winning end, French Moussa Diabate chipped in seven points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and one block in 29:21, with fellow French option Tidjane Salaun (illness) sitting out.
In Mortgage Matchup Center, the Golden State Warriors edged out the Phoenix Suns, 101-97. The team coached by Steve Kerr is awaiting the arrival of midseason acquisition, Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (not with team), with Dutch imports Quinten Post and Malevy Leons ranging from two rebounds and one assist in 5:43 to staying on the bench.
Thursday results
Detroit Pistons – Washington Wizards 117-126
Orlando Magic – Brooklyn Nets 118-98
Atlanta Hawks – Utah Jazz 121-119
Toronto Raptors – Chicago Bulls 123-107
Houston Rockets – Charlotte Hornets 99-109
Dallas Mavericks – San Antonio Spurs 123-135
Phoenix Suns – Golden State Warriors 97-101
Los Angeles Lakers – Philadelphia 76ers 119-115
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 37-13
2. Boston Celtics 33-18
3. New York Knicks 33-18
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 31-21
5. Toronto Raptors 31-22
6. Philadelphia 76ers 29-22
7. Orlando Magic 26-24
8. Miami Heat 27-25
9. Atlanta Hawks 26-27
10. Charlotte Hornets 24-28
11. Chicago Bulls 24-28
12. Milwaukee Bucks 20-29
13. Washington Wizards 14-36
14. Brooklyn Nets 13-37
15. Indiana Pacers 13-38
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 40-12
2. San Antonio Spurs 35-16
3. Denver Nuggets 33-19
4. Houston Rockets 31-19
5. Los Angeles Lakers 31-19
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 32-20
7. Phoenix Suns 31-21
8. Golden State Warriors 28-24
9. Los Angeles Clippers 23-27
10. Portland Trail Blazers 23-28
11. Memphis Grizzlies 20-29
12. Dallas Mavericks 19-32
13. Utah Jazz 16-36
14. New Orleans Pelicans 13-40
15. Sacramento Kings 12-40
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins
Read the latest News
