Wembanyama ejected in Game 4: Spurs fall 109-114 to Timberwolves

A stunning turn of events reshaped Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals on May 10, 2026, at Target Center in Minneapolis: Victor Wembanyama was ejected after just 12 minutes of play following a Flagrant 2 foul on Naz Reid, and the Minnesota Timberwolves capitalized on the absence of the San Antonio Spurs’ cornerstone to rally for a 114-109 victory, leveling the series at 2-2.

Wembanyama’s ejection resets the course of Game 4

The first half began with both teams trading blows, San Antonio showing early intent to control the paint. But the game’s defining moment arrived midway through the first quarter when the n°1 pick of the 2023 Draft caught Naz Reid with a sharp elbow, prompting the officials to assess a Flagrant 2 and send the French phenom to the locker room. In just 12 minutes, Wembanyama had posted 4 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist — solid early work cut brutally short. The ejection immediately shifted the momentum in Minneapolis, and the Timberwolves’ crowd smelled blood. Anthony Edwards, already locked in, began asserting himself as the emotional and statistical engine of the home side.

Playing without their franchise cornerstone, the Spurs leaned heavily on their perimeter contributors. Dylan Harper — electric off the bench — and Stephon Castle stepped into the void, combining for 44 points to keep San Antonio competitive through three quarters. De’Aaron Fox, meanwhile, worked tirelessly to orchestrate the offense but shot an inefficient 8-of-23 from the floor despite finishing with 24 points.

Edwards turns the lights out: 36 points seal the Wolves’ comeback

Anthony Edwards was simply unstoppable in the fourth quarter. The Timberwolves star finished the night with 36 points, 6 rebounds and shot 13-of-22 from the field — a performance that confirmed his status as one of the league’s premier closers. Naz Reid was a crucial supporting actor, posting 15 points and 9 rebounds with four assists, while Jaden McDaniels added 14 points and 6 boards to shore up the Minnesota frontcourt, left exposed early by Wembanyama’s physicality before the ejection changed everything.

San Antonio’s Stephon Castle delivered arguably his best playoff performance to date: 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists with a team-best +8 plus-minus. Dylan Harper was equally impressive — 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting — but a daunting -14 rating reflected the Spurs’ collective inability to hold the fort without the pivot on the floor. Devin Vassell chipped in 14 points on efficient shooting, yet San Antonio could not quite close the five-point gap.

Wembanyama’s ejection, the Spurs’ depth and what comes next

The Wemby factor — and its brutal absence

In only 12 minutes, the Alien had already recorded 4 points and 4 rebounds, signaling a strong start before the Flagrant 2 ruling ended his night. The ejection — described across press coverage as his first career dismissal — fundamentally altered the contest. San Antonio’s defense, built around the seven-footer’s rim protection and length, became far more vulnerable the moment he walked off. The Spurs will almost certainly face a league review regarding a potential additional suspension for Game 5.

A team that refused to fold

Credit where it is due: the Spurs could have collapsed after losing their best player before halftime. Instead, Harper, Castle, Fox and Vassell combined for 82 points and kept San Antonio within striking distance until the final buzzer. The 109 points scored without their franchise player for more than three quarters is a testament to the squad’s depth and competitive spirit — a remarkable silver lining in a bitter defeat.

Series tied 2-2 — Game 5 looms large

With the series now deadlocked at 2-2, the stakes heading into Game 5 could not be higher. San Antonio must first navigate any potential disciplinary fallout surrounding Victor Wembanyama before turning their full attention to a Timberwolves side riding an emotional wave in Minneapolis. A return to the AT&T Center would swing home-court advantage back to the Spurs — but first, they must survive what promises to be a pivotal road game with enormous implications for their conference finals hopes.

• De’Aaron Fox: 24 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl (8/23 FG)
• Dylan Harper: 24 pts, 7 reb, 3 stl (8/11 FG)
• Stephon Castle: 20 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast (+8)
• Devin Vassell: 14 pts, 3 ast (6/10 FG)
• Anthony Edwards (MIN): 36 pts, 6 reb (13/22 FG)
• Naz Reid (MIN): 15 pts, 9 reb, 4 ast