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In the first round of the playoffs, the San Antonio Spurs lost Victor Wembanyama mid-game, couldn't hang on for the win, and had to play without him the following game.
That scenario could be replaying itself against the Minnesota Timberwolves, this time due to an on-court infraction.
Wembanyama was ejected from Sunday's Game 4 after elbowing Timberwolves sixth man Naz Reid in the second quarter. The Spurs held their own without their star and led by as much as eight in the fourth quarter before a 21-7 Minnesota run flipped the game and evened the series.
Victor Wembanyama elbows Naz Reid in the face. 😳 pic.twitter.com/6fDfatJyy4
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 11, 2026As the series shifts back to San Antonio, the Spurs are awaiting word on their big man's status.
Here's what you need to know about a potential suspension for Wembanyama.
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Will Victor Wembanyama be suspended?
Flagrant 2 fouls don't come with an automatic suspension, but the NBA typically reviews a player's actions for more discipline, putting a fine and even a suspension on the table for Wembanyama.
While it would be a major blow for the Spurs and for the league itself not to have one of the game's premier players on the floor for a critical Game 5, history suggests a suspension is at the very least possible. The league has suspended players for throwing elbows in the past, and the fact that Wembanyama appeared to wind up before hitting Reid would make it tough for the NBA to say the contact was incidental or unavoidable.
An elbow is, however, at the discretion of the NBA. A punch is outlined in league rules as at least a one-game suspension, but the league can only base its decision on Wembanyama's Game 5 status on the incident itself and precedent. Precedent indicates there is a real chance he is off the court in Game 5.
When is Game 5 of Spurs-Timberwolves?
The series will resume on Tuesday night in San Antonio, with Game 5 set to tip off at 8 p.m. ET. It's the only game of the night in the NBA.
The Spurs and Timberwolves will receive an additional off day between Game 5 and Game 6, as Game 6 isn't until Friday night back in Minnesota. If Wembanyama is suspended, he would have four full days off between games.
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NBA suspensions for elbows
Recent history tells us that suspensions for elbows that the NBA deems unnecessary are common.
The most memorable example came in 2012, when Metta World Peace hit James Harden with a vicious elbow and was suspended for seven games. World Peace's status as a repeat offender was a factor, and the elbow certainly looked more egregious than most, so a multi-game suspension was a rare step by the NBA.
Hassan Whiteside received a one-game suspension for an elbow to the neck of Boban Marjanovic in 2016. While Whiteside didn't appear to hit Marjanovic as hard as Wembanyama hit Reid, the contact appeared to be intentional or at least unnecessary.
Whiteside was ejected and received a 1-game suspension for this elbow. The most comparable precedent… https://t.co/GEUz9s05Eh pic.twitter.com/KIREaKDuLD
— Steven Adams Stats (@funakistats) May 11, 2026In 2021, LeBron James was suspended one game for an elbow to the face of Isaiah Stewart, which sparked a major brawl between the Pistons and Lakers.
Metta World Peace was suspended 7 games for the elbow to James Harden’s head in 2012.
He missed the final game of the regular season and 6 playoff games. pic.twitter.com/l5Clpd1URk
Not every elbow has resulted in a suspension. When Ausar Thompson was hit in the jaw by an elbow from Richaun Holmes in 2025, Holmes was ejected but not suspended, and played in the Wizards' next game. Holmes could at least make the case that he was fighting to hold onto the ball, though the NBA deemed the contact unnecessary enough to eject him.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 12, 2025If the NBA doesn't suspend Wembanyama, it could mean the league views the incident with Reid as being on a similar level as Holmes' elbow to Thompson.
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