San Antonio star tossed after elbowing Naz Reid in Game 4 defeat; Minnesota evens Western Conference semifinals at 2-2.
The Western Conference semifinals took a volatile turn on Sunday as San Antonio Spurs cornerstone Victor Wembanyama was ejected for the first time in his career, leaving his team to falter in a 114-109 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The incident occurred early in the second quarter when Wembanyama, fighting for space after a rebound, swung his elbow and caught Timberwolves forward Naz Reid in the jaw. After a video review, referee Zach Zarba upgraded the call to a Flagrant 2, citing excessive contact above the neck and triggering an automatic exit for the 22-year-old Frenchman.
The ejection, coming with 8:39 remaining in the first half, is the earliest a playoff All-Star has been tossed in nearly three decades. Wembanyama appeared stunned by the decision, reportedly asking teammate Harrison Barnes “What does that mean?” before making his way to the locker room to the sounds of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” playing over the arena speakers.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson did not mince words following the defeat, which saw Minnesota tie the series at two games apiece. While not condoning the hit, Johnson suggested Wembanyama had been pushed to a breaking point by officiating that fails to account for the “disgusting” amount of physical play directed at the 7-foot-4 center.
“Every single play on every single part of the floor, people are trying to impose their physicality on you,” Johnson said. “At some stage, he should be protected. If not, he’s going to have to protect himself. I’m glad he took matters into his own hands—not in terms of hitting Naz Reid, but in terms of protecting himself.”
Wembanyama’s teammates were quick to characterize the play as an act of frustration rather than malice. Guard De’Aaron Fox noted that Wembanyama’s left arm was being held prior to the swing, suggesting a foul should have been called on Minnesota earlier in the sequence.
“I don’t think it was intentional,” added rookie Dylan Harper. “It was more like, ‘They keep grabbing me. I’m trying to protect myself because ain’t no one else going to protect me.'”
Despite the early exit, Wembanyama remained a presence in the locker room, addressing the team at halftime to instill confidence as they fought to stay within reach of the Timberwolves. He finished the night with just four points and four rebounds in 13 minutes—the lowest scoring output of his NBA career.
The loss puts immense pressure on San Antonio as the series shifts back to Texas for Game 5 on Tuesday. The NBA league office will review the Flagrant 2 for potential further discipline, though Coach Johnson argued that any suspension would be “ridiculous.”
With Minnesota finding their rhythm behind Naz Reid and Anthony Edwards, the Spurs must now find a way to balance their young star’s defensive dominance with the rising tempers of a physical playoff battle.
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