Victor Wembanyama is ejected for flagrant foul as San Antonio Spurs lose to Minnesota Timberwolves

When the ejection was announced, Wembanyama appeared to ask Spurs teammate Harrison Barnes: “What does that mean?”

The Timberwolves’ win on Sunday tied the best-of-seven series 2-2 before Tuesday’s game five in San Antonio, Texas.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said, while he did not condone Wembanyama’s actions, he was glad he “took matters into his own hands” as he believed the 7ft 4in (2.24m) star needed more protection from referees.

Johnson added: “I’m glad Naz Reid is OK and I didn’t want him to elbow him. But (Wembaniamer) has to fend for himself if nobody else is going to do it for him. And I think that’s despicable.”

Wembanyama finished with four points and four rebounds in just under 13 minutes of action, while his Spurs teammates De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper combined for 24 points.

Reid, meanwhile, contributed 15 points and nine rebounds off the bench for the Timberwolves.

“We never expect them to go away,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said.

“They won a game in the Portland series without Wembanyama, so they’re a very good team.”

Also on Sunday, the New York Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals as they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 144-114 in Game Four.

Miles McBride scored 25 points and Jalen Brunson added 22 points to lead the Knicks to a 4-0 series sweep.

The Knicks will face either the top-seeded Detroit Pistons or the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers for a spot in the NBA Finals.