The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the San Antonio Spurs 114-109 on Sunday night to tie their playoff series at 2-2, but the biggest news for Texas fans broke today. NBA officials decided that Victor Wembanyama will not face a suspension or even a fine for the hard elbow that got him tossed from Game 4. According to a breaking report by ESPN’s Shams Charania released on Monday, the league office cleared the superstar center to play in Tuesday’s pivotal Game 5 in San Antonio.
Wembanyama went to the locker room with 8:39 left in the second quarter after he caught Naz Reid in the jaw with a swinging elbow while fighting for a rebound. Referees called it a Flagrant 2, which meant an automatic exit from the game. It was the first time in his professional career that the 7-foot-4 star got kicked out of a game. Minnesota took quick advantage of the empty paint and went on a scoring surge to close the gap. Anthony Edwards carried the load for the Wolves. He scored 36 points and led the charge once the main sports defensive threat was out of the way. Edwards told reporters after the final whistle that his team had to capitalize once the big man was gone.
The loss was tough for the Spurs, who led early but struggled to protect the rim without their primary anchor. They eventually fell in the narrow 114-109 contest. Fans and analysts spent most of Monday morning arguing over whether the hit on Reid deserved more punishment. But the league office disagreed after reviewing the tape. You can see the full stats and the player reactions in the detailed recap of the Game 4 breakdown. Now, with the series moving back to San Antonio, the Spurs have their best player back in the lineup with no lingering penalties or missed time.
How Wembanyama’s availability flips the defensive math for the San Antonio Spurs
The NBA’s decision to avoid a suspension fundamentally changes the outlook for the rest of this series. San Antonio gives up significantly more points in the paint when Wembanyama is off the floor. We saw that play out clearly in Game 4 as the Timberwolves attacked the basket relentlessly once the rim protector left the court. By clearing him for Game 5, the league prevents a major tactical imbalance in a series where every possession counts. Historically, this was Wembanyama’s first ejection, and the sudden absence nearly cost the Spurs their momentum. Now, the pressure shifts back to Minnesota. They won the game, but they now have to figure out how to score against a well-rested defensive anchor on his own home court on Tuesday night.