In the first round of the playoffs, the San Antonio Spurs lost Victor Wembanyama mid-game, couldn't hang on for the win, and had to play without him the following game.
That scenario could be replaying itself against the Minnesota Timberwolves, this time due to an on-court infraction.
Wembanyama was ejected from Sunday's Game 4 after elbowing Timberwolves sixth man Naz Reid in the second quarter. The Spurs held their own without their star and led by as much as eight in the fourth quarter before a 21-7 Minnesota run flipped the game and evened the series.
As the series shifts back to San Antonio, the Spurs are awaiting word on their big man's status.
Q&A
What led to Victor Wembanyama's ejection in Game 4?
Victor Wembanyama was ejected for elbowing Naz Reid during the second quarter of the game.
How might Wembanyama's ejection affect the Spurs' playoff chances?
Wembanyama's absence could significantly weaken the Spurs' performance in the playoffs, as seen in their previous game without him.
What are the historical precedents for NBA suspensions after ejections?
NBA history shows that players ejected for flagrant fouls often face suspensions, depending on the severity of the infraction.
Who is Naz Reid and what role did he play in the incident?
Naz Reid is a sixth man for the Minnesota Timberwolves, and he was the player elbowed by Wembanyama, leading to the ejection.
Related Articles
Soccer·Injury Update
Report De Bruyne out of tonightâs Napoli vs. Bologna clash
Kevin De Bruyne ruled out of tonight's Napoli vs. Bologna clash due to fitness issues.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports·Feature
X Games Sacramento 2026 announces invited athletes for XGL debut
X Games Sacramento 2026 announces its first 100 invited athletes!
Flagrant 2 fouls don't come with an automatic suspension, but the NBA typically reviews a player's actions for more discipline, putting a fine and even a suspension on the table for Wembanyama.
While it would be a major blow for the Spurs and for the league itself not to have one of the game's premier players on the floor for a critical Game 5, history suggests a suspension is at the very least possible. The league has suspended players for throwing elbows in the past, and the fact that Wembanyama appeared to wind up before hitting Reid would make it tough for the NBA to say the contact was incidental or unavoidable.
An elbow is, however, at the discretion of the NBA. A punch is outlined in league rules as at least a one-game suspension, but the league can only base its decision on Wembanyama's Game 5 status on the incident itself and precedent. Precedent indicates there is a real chance he is off the court in Game 5.
When is Game 5 of Spurs-Timberwolves?
The series will resume on Tuesday night in San Antonio, with Game 5 set to tip off at 8 p.m. ET. It's the only game of the night in the NBA.
The Spurs and Timberwolves will receive an additional off day between Game 5 and Game 6, as Game 6 isn't until Friday night back in Minnesota. If Wembanyama is suspended, he would have four full days off between games.
Recent history tells us that suspensions for elbows that the NBA deems unnecessary are common.
The most memorable example came in 2012, when Metta World Peace hit James Harden with a vicious elbow and was suspended for seven games. World Peace's status as a repeat offender was a factor, and the elbow certainly looked more egregious than most, so a multi-game suspension was a rare step by the NBA.
Hassan Whiteside received a one-game suspension for an elbow to the neck of Boban Marjanovic in 2016. While Whiteside didn't appear to hit Marjanovic as hard as Wembanyama hit Reid, the contact appeared to be intentional or at least unnecessary.
Not every elbow has resulted in a suspension. When Ausar Thompson was hit in the jaw by an elbow from Richaun Holmes in 2025, Holmes was ejected but not suspended, and played in the Wizards' next game. Holmes could at least make the case that he was fighting to hold onto the ball, though the NBA deemed the contact unnecessary enough to eject him.
If the NBA doesn't suspend Wembanyama, it could mean the league views the incident with Reid as being on a similar level as Holmes' elbow to Thompson.
