Spurs let opportunity slip away after Wembanyama ejection in Game 4 loss

The San Antonio Spurs were 32 minutes away from stealing control of their Western Conference semifinal series Sunday night, until everything changed with one swing of an elbow.

Why it matters: San Antonio nearly escaped Minneapolis with a 3-1 series lead despite losing Victor Wembanyama to an ejection midway through the second quarter. Instead, the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied late for a 114-109 win to knot the series at two games apiece.

What happened: Wembanyama was tossed with 8:39 remaining in the second quarter after officials upgraded a foul on Naz Reid to a Flagrant 2 following review.

• At the time of the ejection, the Spurs trailed by just two points and appeared poised for another tight battle after taking Game 3 behind Wembanyama’s historic performance.
• Instead of collapsing, San Antonio responded with one of its grittiest stretches of the postseason.

The big picture: Without their franchise star, the Spurs leaned on speed, guard play, and defensive pressure to keep Minnesota uncomfortable for most of the night.

• De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper each scored 24 points, repeatedly attacking Minnesota’s drop coverage and keeping the Spurs afloat offensively.
• Backup center Luke Kornet also delivered key minutes after being thrust into an unexpectedly massive role following Wembanyama’s exit.

By the numbers:

• San Antonio carried a six-point lead into the fourth quarter despite playing most of the game without Wembanyama.
• The Spurs shot just 23.1% from 3-point range, a number that became costly late as Minnesota tightened defensively.
• Edwards erupted for 16 fourth-quarter points and finished with 36 overall to rescue the Timberwolves.

What they're saying: Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson was the most animated we’ve seen him, calling out the officials for failing to protect Wembanyama.

• "He's getting hit on every play... It's gotten to the point that I don't know what to tell him. We've given him fundamental direction on how to deal with it, and at times, it seems that's not enough,” Johnson said.

Minnesota survived largely because Edwards took over in winning time, repeatedly attacking mismatches and getting downhill once fatigue began to hit the undermanned Spurs.

Meanwhile, San Antonio’s resilience may have changed the tone surrounding the series even in defeat. A game that looked destined to become a Timberwolves blowout after the ejection instead became another reminder of how quickly the Spurs’ young core has matured this postseason.

Between the lines: The looming question now is whether Wembanyama faces additional discipline before Game 5. Early reports indicated a suspension was considered unlikely, though the NBA is expected to review the play.

The loss also wasted an opportunity for San Antonio to seize overwhelming control of the series after Wembanyama’s dominant 39-point Game 3 masterpiece two nights earlier.

What’s next: The series shifts back to San Antonio for a pivotal Game 5 with momentum suddenly swinging back toward Minnesota, and with the Spurs waiting to learn whether their superstar will be available.