By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
Fueling a third straight victory in the 2025-26 NBA regular season for the San Antonio SpursFrenchman Victor Wembanyama recorded a double-double in a 135-123 victory over Dallas Mavericks at the 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, along with 11 rebounds, six assists, three blocks and two steals. “I like that we had a little moment that wasn’t as good as the rest of the game, but we stayed pretty solid defensively, even though it could have been better, and we got back to what we know offensively, because at one point we were doing anything,” ” Wemby said in a post-match press conference, describing the final minutes of Thursday’s game. His Polish teammate Jeremy Sochan (left quad strain) remained absent.
During his first appearance with the Chicago BullsFrenchman Guerschon Yabusele lasted 33:14 off the bench for a double-double of 15 points, 11 rebounds, plus three assists and two steals in a defeat, 123-107, against the Toronto Raptors. Fellow Frenchman Ousmane Dieng (not with the team) was absent, along with another French option, Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery), but Lithuanian Matas Buzelis retained his starting spot with 18 points, six rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block in 32:36 at Scotiabank Arena. For the team coached by Serbian Darko Rajakovic, Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili scored 17 points, five rebounds, three steals, one block and one assist in 23:18, with Austrian Jakob Poeltl (lower back sprain) stuck on the injury report.
Returning after an absence of several weeks due to injury, Serbian Tristan Vukcevic dropped 14 points, three assists, three rebounds, two blocks and a steal in 11:09, pushing the Wizards of Washington to a surprise, 126-117, from Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. France’s starting teammates ranged from Alex Sarr with 12 points, six rebounds, a block and an assist in 18:01 to Bilal Coulibaly with 11 points, five rebounds, four assists, a block and a steal in 36:14. On the bad side, Swede Bobi Klintman did not play and Croatian newcomer Dario Saric (not with the team) was unavailable.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s winning goal lifted the Atlanta Falcons on the Utah Jazz121-119, at State Farm Arena. French starter Zaccharie Risacher went 0/8 scoreless in 19:15, along with six rebounds and a steal, and Serbian Nikola Djurisic remained on assignment with the G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks. For the visitors, Finnish starter Lauri Markkanen had 18 points, five rebounds, a steal and an assist in 23:26, Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk had 14 points and four rebounds in 22:42, and Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic remained on the bench.
The Turk Alperen Sengun was limited to 3/11 shots and seven points, in addition to nine rebounds, five assists and one block in 27:49, while the Houston Rockets went to Charlotte Frelons109-99, at the Toyota Center. Swiss replacement Clint Capela had six points, five rebounds and two steals in 17:16. Starting on the winning side, Frenchman Moussa Diabaté scored seven points, 12 rebounds, four assists and a block in 29:21, with his French compatriot Tidjane Salaun (illness) absent.
In Mortgage Matchup Center, the Warriors of the Golden State anticipated the Phoenix Suns101-97. The Steve Kerr-coached team awaits the arrival of Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (not with the team), with Dutch imports Quinten Post and Malevy Leon going for two rebounds and an assist in 5:43 remaining on the bench.
Thursday results
Detroit Pistons – Wizards of Washington 117-126
Magic of Orlando – Brooklyn fillets 118-98
Atlanta Falcons – Utah Jazz 121-119
Toronto Raptors – Chicago Bulls 123-107
Houston Rockets – Charlotte Frelons 99-109
Dallas Mavericks – San Antonio Spurs 123-135
Phoenix Suns – Warriors of the Golden State 97-101
Los Angeles Lakers – Philadelphia 76ers 119-115
Ranking
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. Magic of Orlando 26-24
8. Miami Heat 27-25
9. Atlanta Falcons 26-27
10. Charlotte Hornets 24-28
11. Chicago Bulls 24-28
12. Milwaukee Bucks 20-29
13. Wizards of Washington 14-36
14. Brooklyn fillets 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. Kings of Sacramento 12-40
-The top 6 teams in each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth in each conference advance to the Play-Ins
