Wembanyama Ejected as Timberwolves Even Series 2-2 — Game 5 Is Going to Be Insane

By Rachel Kim · May 11, 2026

Victor Wembanyama was ejected from Game 4 of the Spurs-Timberwolves 2026 NBA playoff series after elbowing Naz Reid in the face, earning a flagrant 2 foul. Without their 7-foot-4 unicorn, San Antonio collapsed down the stretch. Minnesota won 114-109 to tie the series 2-2, and honestly? This might be the most chaotic playoff series I've watched in years. Game 5 tips off May 12 in San Antonio, and I genuinely have no idea who wins.

What Exactly Happened With the Ejection?

Let me paint the picture for you. Third quarter, Spurs up six, Wemby posting up on Naz Reid near the left block. Reid was physical — he'd been bodying Wemby all night, honestly getting away with a few shoves the refs let slide. But then Wembanyama swung his elbow backward, caught Reid flush on the jaw, and Reid went down hard.

The arena went silent. Then chaos. Coaches screaming, players from both benches standing up. The refs went to the monitor and it took about four minutes of review before the call came: flagrant 2, automatic ejection.

I've watched the replay maybe fifteen times now. Was it intentional? I genuinely don't think so. Wemby looked shocked when he saw Reid on the ground. But intent doesn't matter on a flagrant 2 — it's about the severity of the contact, and an elbow to the face is an elbow to the face. The refs made the right call even if it felt devastating for the Spurs.

How the Timberwolves Seized the Moment

Here's what separates good teams from great ones: Minnesota didn't just benefit from the ejection — they actively buried San Antonio. Anthony Edwards smelled blood immediately. Within the first two minutes after Wemby left, Edwards hit a pull-up three, drew a foul on a drive, and threw down a transition dunk that shook the Target Center.

The Wolves went on a 16-4 run in the six minutes following the ejection. San Antonio's offense, which had been humming with Wemby as the hub of every action, turned into isolation ball and contested mid-range jumpers. Devin Vassell tried to shoulder the load and honestly looked exhausted by the fourth quarter. He finished with 24 points but on 9-of-23 shooting.

Edwards finished with 34 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds. But the stat that matters most: plus-19 in the minutes after the ejection. That's a takeover. That's a superstar saying "this is my moment." I got chills watching it in real time.

Wemby's Incredible Game 3 Makes This Even More Painful

What makes the ejection so gut-wrenching for Spurs fans is the context. Just two days earlier, Wembanyama put up one of the greatest playoff performances by a third-year player in NBA history: 39 points, 15 rebounds, 5 blocks, 4 assists. He was unstoppable. He hit threes off the dribble, blocked shots at the rim, and threw a no-look pass that made Jokic look jealous.

I remember texting my group chat after Game 3: "This kid is going to win multiple championships." And I still believe that. But Game 4 is a reminder that raw talent doesn't protect you from moments of frustration. Wemby is 22 years old, deep in a physical playoff series, getting hammered every possession. The elbow was a lapse in composure, not character. He'll learn from it. But man, the timing couldn't have been worse for San Antonio.

Can the Spurs Recover at Home in Game 5?

Here's where it gets interesting. Game 5 is in San Antonio on May 12, and the AT&T Center is going to be an absolute cauldron. Spurs fans are already furious about some of the officiating in this series, and that anger is going to translate into one of the loudest arenas in the playoffs.

The Spurs are 5-1 at home this postseason. Wembanyama averages 31 points and 13 rebounds in home playoff games compared to 26 and 10 on the road. The crowd, the comfort, the routine — it all matters. And assuming the NBA doesn't suspend him (which I'd bet they won't — flagrant 2 ejections rarely carry suspensions without a history), Wemby will be playing with a chip on his shoulder the size of Texas.

But Minnesota has momentum now, and momentum in a 2-2 series is a real thing. Edwards looked like the best player on the court in Game 4. Rudy Gobert was a wall defensively. Jaden McDaniels locked down Vassell in the fourth quarter. This Wolves team isn't scared of the road.

My Honest Take: This Series Is Going Seven Games

I've been covering the NBA for six years and I can count on one hand the series that felt this electric at the 2-2 stage. Neither team has a clear advantage. Both have a legitimate franchise cornerstone. The chess match between Gregg Popovich — yes, he's still going at 77 — and Chris Finch has been fascinating.

My prediction: Spurs win Game 5 at home behind an angry Wembanyama 35-point explosion. Wolves take Game 6 in Minnesota. Game 7 back in San Antonio, and honestly, I think that game could go either way. I'm leaning Spurs because Wemby in a Game 7 at home feels like destiny, but Edwards has that rare ability to just take over a game by sheer force of will.

Whatever happens, we're watching two future Hall of Famers going at each other in their athletic primes. Enjoy this. We might look back on this series the way we look back on Bird vs. Magic or LeBron vs. Durant. It's that special.