San Antonio center Victor Wembanyama was tossed from Sunday’s Game 4 in Minnesota after receiving a flagrant foul 2 for elbowing Timberwolves big man Naz Reid in the neck and jaw with 8:39 left in the second quarter. The ejection, the first of Wembanyama’s NBA career, came after officials upgraded an initial offensive foul to a flagrant 2 upon video review, an automatic dismissal.
The incident left the 22-year-old appearing puzzled on the broadcast, where he was seen asking teammate Harrison Barnes about the ruling. At the time of his exit, the newly crowned Defensive Player of the Year had logged just four points and four rebounds in 12 minutes. San Antonio went on to drop the contest, allowing Minnesota to even the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.
Wembanyama’s quiet night followed a dominant Game 3 showing in which he posted 39 points on 13-of-18 shooting, 15 rebounds and five blocks over 37 minutes.
The NBA will review the play to determine whether further discipline is warranted. Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson defended his star following the 113-108 loss, insisting Wembanyama was “defending himself” against increasing physicality.
“It’s getting to a point that if the people that are in charge of controlling the game and protecting the physicality of the game don’t do that, then at some point he’s going to have to protect himself,” Johnson told reporters. The coach dismissed the notion of a possible suspension as “ridiculous,” emphasizing there was “zero intent” to injure Reid.
The series shifts back to San Antonio for Game 5.
Source: Hoops Rumors
