Victor Wembanyama ejected after foul on Naz Reid in Spurs–Timberwolves game. In Minneapolis, Victor Wembanyama was ejected for a foul against Naz Reid. The referees classified the incident as a Flagrant 2, resulting in the player's automatic ejection. This changed the dynamics of an important playoff game.
In Minneapolis, during the second quarterfinal playoff game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Minnesota Timberwolves, an unexpected turn occurred: Victor Wembanyama was ejected from the court after referees called a Flagrant 2 for an elbow to the throat of Naz Reid. The incident happened at the start of the second quarter when Wembanyama, pressured by Reid and Jaden McDaniels after a rebound, reacted sharply and committed a foul, which was immediately flagged by the officials as an offensive foul.
After reviewing the video replay, the referees decided to increase the penalty, qualifying the contact as a Flagrant 2 for excessive force and a blow above the neck. This resulted in Wembanyama's automatic ejection, immediately shifting the balance of power on the court in favor of the Timberwolves. At that moment, fans in the stands were chanting for the player’s removal, and after the referees announced their decision, Michael Jackson’s “Beat it!” played in the arena.
Wembanyama, who had scored just four points, grabbed four rebounds, and collected three personal fouls in 13 minutes before being ejected, left the court, bidding farewell to each of his teammates. After that, Naz Reid sank both free throws, putting the Timberwolves ahead, 38–34. In the previous game of the series, the French center scored 39 points, but this time, facing the opponent’s powerful front line—featuring Reid, Julius Randle, and McDaniels—proved to be a much tougher challenge for him.
The San Antonio Spurs entered the fourth game with a 2-1 lead after their 115-108 win in Game 3. However, the ejection of a key player in the first half put the team in a difficult position and gave the Timberwolves a chance to turn the series around. As noted by the Associated Press, the ejection was the defining moment of the evening, sparking a strong reaction both in the stands and among players on both teams.
The theme of tense matches and unexpected twists in the playoffs is nothing new for Spanish fans: recently, similar attention was drawn to a match where Mallorca was fighting for survival in a match against Villarreal, which also became a turning point for the season.
