Kendrick Perkins blasts NBA for allowing Victor Wembanyama to play in Game 5

Wembanyama scored 39 points and pulled down 15 rebounds in Game 3, a 115-108 Spurs triumph. In Game 4, Wembanyama managed four points and four rebounds before his ejection, and the Timberwolves rolled to a 114-109 victory. He averaged 25 points and 11.5 rebounds during the regular season. Wembanyama recorded a league-high 3.1 blocks per game and earned NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors.

In opposition to Perkins, many NBA analysts — and the Spurs themselves — argued that Wembanyama’s absence for the majority of Game 4 was punishment enough. San Antonio asserted that Wembanyama endures extremely physical play from opponents.

“I’m glad (Wembanyama) took matters into his own hands,” Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said, per The Athletic. “Not in terms of hitting Naz Reid, by all means (I’m) being very clear about that. I’m glad Naz Reid is OK, and I didn’t want him to elbow him. But he’s going to have to protect himself if they’re not. And I think it’s disgusting.”

Meanwhile, Reid is expected to play in Game 5 as well after suffering an ankle injury in the fourth quarter of Game 4.

Finally, the Timberwolves and Spurs meet at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday on NBC and Peacock.