The second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs has been a roller coaster, and there may not be a greater example of that than Game 4 of the San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves series.
In the first half of play, a tightly contested battle was affected in a major way when Spurs C Victor Wembanyama was issued a Flagrant II foul. The superstar big man elbowed Wolves PF Naz Reid in the neck area, thus prompting an ejection from the contest.
In the aftermath of the ejection, many are wondering whether any additional action from the league could be coming down the pipeline. Will Wembanyama be suspended for Game 5? Let’s dive into the latest NBA news from Monday.
Make your Timberwolves vs. Spurs prediction on PrizePicks for the Western Conference semifinals.
{{nba_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
Will Victor Wembanyama Be Suspended Following Game 4 Ejection?
Fortunately for San Antonio, its best player isn’t going anywhere. Per Shams Charania of ESPN, there will be “no further discipline” for Wembanyama. He’s eligible to play in Tuesday’s Game 5 at 8:00 p.m. ET, and he won’t face a fine for the elbow.
Did the league make the right call? It’s a double-edged sword. On one hand, prominent suspensions from the past do create some precedent for such a move. On the other, this is his first time being in a position like this.
Back in 2012, Los Angeles Lakers F Metta World Peace was suspended seven games — one regular-season bout and six NBA Playoff contests — for elbowing PG James Harden in the head. Seven years prior, Lakers SG Kobe Bryant elbowed Memphis Grizzlies SF Mike Miller in the throat and was out two regular-season games.
2013 saw New York Knicks SG J.R. Smith miss one postseason game after an elbow to Boston Celtics SG Jason Terry. In 2023, Golden State Warriors PF Draymond Green was suspended one playoff game for stepping on C Domantas Sabonis’ chest.
Wembanyama may be the biggest name of this bunch, but he’s also new to the ejection game. That almost surely played a role in the NBA not pursuing any other discipline, paving the way for the Defensive Player of the Year to get back in the lineup for a pivotal Game 5.
Over on PrizePicks Team Picks, a prediction of “Yes” for the Spurs to win the Western Conference semifinals returns a 1.23x payout. “No” returns a 3.84x payout.
How Are Spurs Impacted by Victor Wembanyama Avoiding Suspension?
Of course, Wembanyama and the Spurs’ long-term goals go far beyond this series. On Team Picks, some top team futures payouts for San Antonio are as follows:
- Spurs NBA Finals Winner: 4.76x Yes | 1.16x No
- Spurs Western Conference Winner: 3.57x Yes | 1.25x No
- Spurs 10+ NBA Playoff Wins: 1.17x Yes | 1.61x No
It’s hard to understate just how much Wembanyama helps the Spurs when he’s on the floor. Per databallr, he was worth 13.3 points per 100 possessions during the regular season. That number is 14.1 in the NBA Playoffs, fueled by San Antonio’s defense being 12.8 points worse without the all-world stopper.
In terms of individual production, multiple Spurs could see their stats shift with Wemby back for Game 5. PG De’Aaron Fox stepped up to take big-time shots in Sunday’s 114-109 loss, but his usage rate is 7.7% lower in minutes with Wembanyama in the same lineup. A similar trend follows suit for 2024-25 Rookie of the Year G Stephon Castle (-7.8%).
Wing Devin Vassell might be the most interesting case here. The veteran SG-SF has a 7.6% lower usage rate with Wembanyama than without him, but he shoots 4.9% better from 3-point land when he shares the floor with the superstar. His plus-minus also skyrockets from 1.0 to 16.9.
Here are the Spurs players who may be impacted most on PrizePicks with Wembanyama available for Game 5, as well as their stat projections for Tuesday.
- De’Aaron Fox vs. Timberwolves Projections: 17.5 Points / 2.5 Rebounds (Goblin), 5.5 Assists
- Stephon Castle vs. Timberwolves Projections: 17.5 Points / 4.5 Rebounds (Goblin) / 5.5 Assists
- Devin Vassell vs. Timberwolves Projections: 12.5 Points / 1.5 3-PT Made (Goblin) / 2.5 Assists
The sheer volume may not be there for Vassell when Wembanyama is present, although his efficiency certainly seems to see an uptick.
Pick More or Less Spurs player stats on PrizePicks now before Tuesday’s 8:00 p.m. tip.
{{nba_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
Make Timberwolves vs. Spurs Picks on PrizePicks
With Victor Wembanyama not being suspended, he’s cleared for Game 5 between Minnesota and San Antonio. That not only could make life more difficult for the Wolves, but it might also ease the burden for Wemby’s Spurs teammates.
Don’t wait until lock — make your Timberwolves vs. Spurs picks on PrizePicks now and earn real money if you’re right.
Pick players, predict More or Less on their stats, and cash in if you’re right. With Team Picks, you can make predictions on game winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 35 states.
Stay locked in on Playbook for daily NBA predictions, picks, and news every day all the way through the 2026 NBA Finals.
