The Minnesota Timberwolves took advantage of Victor Wembanyama’s ejection in Game 4 to hack out a hard-earned 114-109 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night to tie their second-round playoff series at 2-2.
With Wemby out, the Wolves scored 50 points in the paint on Sunday, a huge improvement from their 36 in Game 3 and 38 in Game 4, both of which they lost. With Wembanyama’s ejection stemming from a flagrant foul 2 committed on Timberwolves big man Naz Reid, many wonder whether the NBA will suspend Wemby for the crucial Game 5 in San Antonio on Tuesday night.
However, before the NBA decides on Wemby’s case, Fox Sports’ Emmanuel Acho has a message to the league office.
“The NBA better not suspend Wemby for game 5! He got thrown out of the game early, that’s penalty enough,”wrote Acho on “X.”
It’s playoff basketball, let them play
Wembanyama was ejected early in the second quarter of Game 4, after throwing a blatant elbow that struck Reid in the neck. It was clear as day that the referee nearest to the incident immediately called a Flagrant Foul 2 on Wembanyama, resulting in his ejection.
Without Wemby, the Timberwolves went to work and although the Spurs still led in the fourth quarter, they could not hold on without their defensive anchor.
The big question now is what happens next as the league is expected to review the incident on Monday. And although the Spurs don’t expect a further penalty on their young superstar, the ultimate decision will be made by the league. But Acho wants the NBA to know that Wemby already sat out almost 3 quarters in Game 4, which already cost them the game, so no further penalty should be assessed.
“It’s playoff basketball,” he added. “Let them play. Eject Wemby because it was a dirty move. It was an intentional move. It met all the criteria for a flagrant 2. It met all criteria for being thrown out of the game.”
“But if you suspend Wemby for Game 5, you are completely shifting the series. And you’re shifting the series based on an intense move and an intense environment for intense playoff basketball, we want toughness, right? We want physicality back. We want the 1980s NBA back, right? You can’t get that and complain when you get that,” he continued.
Related: “Nothing is private in the NBA” – Draymond Green blasts the NBA for a lack of privacy towards players
Not an automatic suspension
According to Section VII of Rule 12 of the NBA rule book, “Any player who is assessed a flagrant foul — penalty 2 must be ejected and will be fined a minimum of $,2000. The incident will be reported to the League office.” Also, there is no automatic suspension for a Flagrant Foul 2 offense, which is key here.
However, in the past, players have been suspended for throwing a blatant elbow. J.R. Smith was suspended for one game for elbowing Jason Terry in 2013. Hassan Whiteside was also given a one-game ban for throwing an elbow at Boban Marjanovic.
Even the late Kobe Bryant was suspended two games for elbowing Mike Miller in the throat in 2005. It’s worth noting, though, that only Smith’s happened during a playoff game. But the NBA also suspended Draymond Green in a crucial Finals game for kicking LeBron.
Acho is right that if the league suspends Wembanyama, it could shift the series to Minnesota’s favor, which would be unfortunate.
But given that Reid merely said “pain is weakness leaving the body” and he looked okay, there is really no need to ban Wemby for one game. Unless, of course, some NBA wants more drama in the series, then who knows.
Related: “They the new grit-and-grind” – Paul Pierce challenges Victor Wembanyama to match the Wolves’ physicality
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
