San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama looked completely bewildered in the moments before his ejection. The 22-year-old was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul during Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.
With 8:39 remaining in the second quarter, Wembanyama was positioning for a rebound when Naz Reid swarmed him. The French center threw an elbow that struck Reid directly on the jaw.
Following a review, officials determined the contact was excessive, classifying it as a follow-through above the neck of an opponent, which automatically triggered an ejection. Wembanyama finished the game with just four points and four rebounds in 13 minutes—the first ejection of his career.
Cameras captured Wembanyama sitting on the bench as referees announced their decision, and he appeared not to grasp the ruling after the Flagrant 2 was confirmed. The two-time All-Star had to seek clarification from veteran teammate Harrison Barnes before heading to the locker room.
The Timberwolves’ physical play may be taking a toll on Wembanyama. The ejection was uncharacteristic for the typically calm and collected Spurs star.
Without their best player, the Timberwolves capitalized. Minnesota evened the series at 2-2 with a 114-109 victory at Target Center. Anthony Edwards led all scorers with 36 points, six rebounds, and two assists. De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper each contributed 24 points for San Antonio.
Through the first three games of the series, Wembanyama had averaged 23.0 points, 15.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. The NBA will further investigate the incident for potential supplemental discipline. A suspension for Game 5 would be a major setback for the Spurs.