Tidjane Salaün off to a strong start: first basket, double-double and Greensboro win in G-League Finals
Tidjane Salaün (6’9″, 20 years old) delivered when it mattered most at the start of the G-League Finals. On Wednesday, the former Charenton and Cholet player helped Greensboro defeat Stockton (111-107) in Game 1 of the Finals. After scoring the first basket of the game, the Frenchman finished with 10 points on 4/14 shooting, 10 rebounds and 27 minutes of play.
Tidjane Salaün with the first bucket of the 2026 NBA G League Finals! 🔥 @hornets
Tune in live as the @StocktonKings take on the @greensboroswarm on ESPNews. 📺 pic.twitter.com/drGonji9MS
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) April 8, 2026
A first basket, then a real impact in the battle
Greensboro was largely in control throughout Game 1, even if the closing stretch got tense. The Swarm came out blazing with an opening 16-3 run, led at halftime (63-57), and entered the fourth quarter with a six-point cushion (90-84).
In this game, Tidjane Salaün made a valuable contribution with his double-double. He notably helped Greensboro dominate the rebounding battle by a wide margin (66 to 46), one of the key factors of the night. The Swarm’s bench also made the difference, outscoring Stockton’s reserves 49 to 21.
Greensboro held off Stockton’s comeback
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Greensboro, however. Stockton opened the fourth quarter with a 10-0 run to retake the lead, at one point building as much as a seven-point advantage (101-94). But the Swarm responded in the clutch, thanks in particular to Terrell Brown Jr., Marcus Garrett and Jaylen Sims.
Marcus Garrett led all Greensboro scorers with 21 points and 7 rebounds, while Liam McNeeley also posted a double-double (14 points and 13 rebounds). Jaylen Sims added 15 points, including a crucial three-pointer late in the game to give his team some breathing room.
One win away from the title
Greensboro is now just one victory away from the first G-League championship in franchise history. Game 2 is scheduled for Friday night in Stockton. A second straight win would crown the Charlotte Hornets affiliate as champions. If not, a deciding game will be held on Monday, April 13 in Greensboro.
For Tidjane Salaün, Game 1 was nonetheless an encouraging sign: despite below-par shooting from the outside, the French international made his presence felt right from the opening tip with his energy and rebounding.
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