Gobert Shines as Timberwolves Suffer Crushing Defeat, French Players Make Impact Across the NBA
Despite a late-game collapse by his team, Rudy Gobert delivered a standout performance, leading a strong night for French players across the NBA on November 25, 2025. The Minnesota Timberwolves faltered against the Sacramento Kings, 117-112, but Gobert’s dominant showing provided a bright spot. Several other French athletes also saw action, with Rayan Rupert gaining valuable playing time with the Portland Trail Blazers.
NBA Scoreboard: November 25th Results
A busy night of basketball saw several key matchups conclude with the following results:
- Pacers – Pistons : 117-122
- Raptors – Cavs : 110 – 99
- Nets – Knicks : 100-113
- Heat – Mavs : 106-102
- Grizzlies – Nuggets : 115-125
- Bucks – Blazers : 103-115
- Pelicans – Bulls : 143-130
- Suns – Rockets – 92-114
- Warriors – Jazz : 134-117
- Kings – Wolves : 117-112
Gobert’s Dominance Amidst Timberwolves’ Struggles
Gobert was a force on both ends of the court, finishing with 11 points, 13 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 1 assist. Shooting 4/6 from the field and 3/4 from the line, his performance stood in stark contrast to the Timberwolves’ overall struggles. “The Timberwolves pivot is the only Frenchman to have had a really good performance last night, despite his team’s huge choke,” a source noted.
The Timberwolves’ disappointing loss has sparked debate among fans and analysts alike. .
French Contingent Sees Varied Action
Beyond Gobert, several other French players contributed for their respective teams. Rayan Rupert of the Portland Trail Blazers enjoyed a significant 16 minutes of playing time, demonstrating the trust placed in him by head coach Tiago Splitter. He recorded 2 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists, shooting 1/3 from the field and 0/2 from beyond the arc. The Trail Blazers shared a celebratory post on X/Twitter showcasing Rupert’s progress: https://twitter.com/trailblazers/status/RwMDrYj4y0.
The Minnesota Timberwolves also highlighted the impressive play of their French players on X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Timberwolves/status/wU4w9VSkLD.
Guerschon Yabusele made a positive impact in 12 minutes for the New York Knicks during their 113-100 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, contributing 3 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 block. Pacôme Dadiet and Mohamed Diawara also saw limited action for the Knicks, logging 3 and 5 minutes respectively, each grabbing a single rebound.
Sidy Cissoko, a player for the Blazers, had a less impactful game, scoring 3 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound, and 1 steal while shooting 1/4 from the field. Noah Essengue recorded his first NBA statistic – an interception – in just two minutes of play for the Pelicans against the Bulls, though he missed both of his shot attempts. Maxime Raynaud faced a tough matchup against Gobert, managing 1 point and 2 rebounds in 14 minutes for the Kings.
Looking Ahead: Upcoming NBA Schedule
The NBA action continues with a slate of games scheduled for the coming days, including matchups featuring several French players:
- 1h: Wizards (Bilal Coulibaly, Alexandre Sarr) – Hawks (Zaccharie Risacher)
- 2h: Sixers – Magic (Noah Penda)
- 5h: Lakers – Clippers (Nicolas Batum)
The continued development and contributions of these French athletes add an exciting dimension to the NBA landscape.
