Seven French basketball players took the floor across the NBA hardwood, anchored by Victor Wembanyama’s 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks to secure the San Antonio Spurs’ first victory of the season.
Wembanyama Leads Spurs to First Victory
Victor Wembanyama endured a sluggish start before finishing with 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks, helping the San Antonio Spurs claim their opening win of the campaign, TrashTalk reported. On the opposing side of the French contingent, Zaccharie Risacher earned his first start of the season for the Mavericks. Risacher contributed 11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks, and a notable high-altitude rejection on Wembanyama at the rim.
Contributions Across the Association
Alexandre Sarr posted 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 blocks as he continues to find his offensive rhythm alongside Trae Young and Anthony Davis. Bilal Coulibaly put together a strong performance with 7 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, a victory, and the night’s highlight reel poster dunk. Moussa Diabaté added 4 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in a win against the Heat. Tidjane Salaün chipped in 3 points and 3 rebounds across 10 minutes, drawing defensive assignments against Giannis Antetokounmpo. Nolan Traoré managed 3 points and 2 rebounds in 5 minutes, continuing to battle for minutes within the Nets rotation. Meanwhile, Ousmane Dieng for the Bucks, Noa Essengue for the Bulls, and Rayan Rupert for the Sixers did not enter their respective games.
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Blocks / Steals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor Wembanyama | Spurs | 23 | 7 | 4 blocks |
| Zaccharie Risacher | Mavericks | 11 | 4 | 2 blocks |
| Alexandre Sarr | Wizards | 10 | 3 | 3 blocks |
| Bilal Coulibaly | Wizards | 7 | 4 | 2 steals |
| Moussa Diabaté | Hornets | 4 | 5 | 2 assists, 2 steals |
| Tidjane Salaün | Hornets | 3 | 3 | 0 blocks |
| Nolan Traoré | Nets | 3 | 2 | 0 blocks |
Saturday’s Upcoming Slate
The action continues later tonight with a packed schedule featuring several French connections. The Jazz face the Lakers at 22:00, followed by the Nets and Nolan Traoré meeting the Pacers at 23:00. At midnight, the Knicks featuring Mo Diawara and Pacôme Dadiet host the Magic, while the Timberwolves with Rudy Gobert and Joan Beringer play the Raptors. The Thunder take on the Clippers at midnight, the Sixers with Rayan Rupert play the Pistons at 00:30, and the Kings face the Grizzlies at 02:00.
