May 11 (UPI) — San Antonio Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said he was glad Victor Wembanyama "took matters into his own hands" after he elbowed Naz Reid in the neck and jaw, triggering an ejection during a playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Wembanyama's first career ejection occurred in the second quarter of the Timberwolves' 114-109 win in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals series Sunday in Minneapolis. The NBA MVP finalist scored a career-low four points.
Johnson took officials to task for alleged missed calls committed against the Spurs star, which he believes led to the outburst.
"It's really disappointing," Johnson said. "At some level, it's starting to get disgusting in terms of when he tries to fight through things and be professional and mature and deal with some of that stuff.
"I'm glad he took matters into his own hands. Not in terms of hitting Naz Reid, I want to be 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 [referees] not. And I think it's disgusting."
Wembanyama was jostling with Reid for position while the Spurs had the ball about 3:15 into the second quarter. Reid crouched down to box out Wembanyama as Spurs forward Carter Bryant launched a 3-point attempt.
The 7-foot-4 Frenchman managed to grab an offensive rebound off the missed shot, despite being out of position. Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels grabbed his left arm on the play, while Reid attempted to slap at the ball from his right. Wembanyama then pulled back his right elbow and launched it at Reid, who twisted and fell to the floor.
Referees reviewed the play and said Wembanyama deployed "wind up, impact and follow through above the neck," with unnecessary and excessive action. They upgraded the foul to a flagrant 2, resulting in his ejection. Wembanyama could be seen asking teammate Harrison Barnes what that meant. The Spurs forward relayed that he was ejected.
Johnson said the "call was warranted," but cited a "lack of protection" for Wembanyama.
"Every single play on every single part of the floor, people are trying to impose their physicality on you," Johnson said of Wembanyama. "We get it, it's part of the game. … He's gotten chucked. He's gotten pushed down in transition, running freely, all the stuff. He doesn't complain one time. We don't complain because we're just going to play. We don't really give a [expletive]. But at some stage, he should be protected.
"If not, he's going to have to protect himself, and unfortunately, stuff like that happens."
The Timberwolves scored the next six points after the ejection and led 60-56 at halftime. The Spurs rallied to outscore the Timberwolves 28-20. The Timberwolves bounced back by holding a 34-25 edge over the final 12 minutes to even the best-of-seven game series at 2-2.
Reid logged 15 points, nine rebounds and four assists off the Timberwolves bench. He told reporters "pain is weakness leaving the body," when asked if he was hurt when Wembanyama hit him with his elbow.
Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards scored a game-high 36 points, with six rebounds and two assists. McDaniels chipped in 14 points and six rebounds. Center Rudy Gobert totaled 11 points, 13 rebounds and four assists.
Wembanyama made 2 of 5 shot attempts in 12:29 of action. He also totaled four rebounds and an assist. Spurs guards De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper scored 24 points apiece in the loss.
Wembanyama will be fined a minimum of $2,000. The play also will be reviewed to determine if further disciplinary measures are appropriate.
Johnson said he did not believe Wembanyama will be suspended an any addition punishments would be "ridiculous."
Wembanyama averaged 19.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.4 blocks and 2.1 assists per game through his first eight appearances this postseason. He logged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds. 3.1 blocks and 3.1 assists per game during the regular season.
The second-seeded Spurs will host the No. 6 Timberwolves in Game 5 at 8 p.m. EDT Tuesday in San Antonio. Game 6 will be Friday in Minneapolis.
The winner of the series will face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder or No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals. The Thunder, who lead that series 3-0, will battle the Lakers in Game 4 at 10:30 p.m. Monday in Los Angeles.
