San Antonio Spurs star center Victor Wembanyama was ejected from Sunday night’s 114-109 playoff loss against the Timberwolves in the second quarter after throwing an elbow into the face of Minnesota’s Naz Reid.
Wembanyama grabbed a rebound and was trying to protect the ball from two Timberwolves during Game 4 of the Western Conference second-round series in Minneapolis. Then he turned and unleashed a vicious right elbow into the chin of Reid and was called for a foul with 8:39 left in the first half.
“I just think that with the physicality they try to play against him, at some point you’re going to have to protect yourself,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said about Wembanyama having to defend himself. “Every single play on every single part of the floor, people are trying to impose their physicality on him.”
The officiating crew studied views of the play before upgrading the foul to a flagrant 2, which is an automatic ejection.
“After review, there was windup, impact and follow-through above the neck of an opponent,” head official Zach Zarba announced. “It was unnecessary and excessive contact by Wembanyama and it meets all the criteria and it has been upgraded to a flagrant foul penalty 2. Wembanyama has been ejected.”
The Spurs trailed 36-34 at the time of the ejection, and Reid proceeded to make both his foul shots for a four-point lead. Wembanyama had four points, four rebounds and no blocks in 12-plus minutes.
Asked by reporters if he thought Wembanyama could be suspended for Game 5, Johnson said, “No. There was zero intent. To have anything on top of that, I think, would be ridiculous.
“(The referees) did what they did because of the outcome of the play.”
As for Reid, he appears to be no worse for wear following the elbow.
“Pain is weakness leaving the body, that’s it,” Reid said.
Wembanyama had an epic performance in Game 3 when he recorded 39 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots in the 115-108 road victory on Friday. He became the fourth different player in NBA history to produce at least 35 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in a playoff game.
The Timberwolves evened the best-of-seven series with the victory on Sunday. Game 5 is Tuesday in San Antonio.
–Field Level Media
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