Victor Wembanyama exited San Antonio’s Game 2 against Portland with a potential concussion after a hard fall in the second quarter, leaving the Spurs without their reigning Defensive Player of the Year in a tightly contested playoff series.
The 22-year-old French center tumbled face-first to the court with 8:57 remaining in the quarter after being fouled by Jrue Holiday while driving to the basket. He appeared to lose consciousness briefly, his eyes closing on impact, and remained motionless for about 30 seconds before sitting up and speaking briefly with teammate Stephon Castle.
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson called a timeout immediately, and Wembanyama walked slowly to the locker room under the supervision of head athletic trainer Will Sevening. The crowd at Frost Bank Center responded with sustained “Wemby” chants as he disappeared into the tunnel.
Fifteen minutes later, Sevening returned to the bench alone, confirming Wembanyama would not return. The Spurs officially placed him in the NBA’s concussion protocol, meaning he must pass a series of neurological clearance steps before being allowed to play again.
In his limited time on the floor, Wembanyama scored five points and grabbed four rebounds in 12 minutes of action. His exit came just hours after he was unanimously named the Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the youngest player ever to win the award.
San Antonio had entered the game riding momentum from a 111-98 victory in Game 1, where Wembanyama dominated with 35 points and five rebounds. The Spurs finished the regular season with the league’s second-best record, largely built around his two-way impact.
Backup center Luke Kornet was inserted into the starting lineup following Wembanyama’s departure. Holiday was called for a non-shooting foul on the play, though no further disciplinary action was expected.
The injury raises immediate concerns about San Antonio’s playoff trajectory. Wembanyama averaged 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 blocks, and 3.1 assists during the regular season, becoming the only NBA player to post 1,500-plus points, 700-plus rebounds, 150-plus blocks, and 50-plus steals in a single campaign.
His ability to protect the rim and initiate offense makes his absence particularly consequential in a series where defensive adjustments and interior scoring are at a premium. The Spurs will need significant contributions from role players to compensate for the loss of their franchise cornerstone.
Spurs adjust rotation amid defensive void
San Antonio will rely on increased minutes from veterans like Jeremy Sochan and Keldon Johnson to shoulder defensive responsibilities, while doubling down on pick-and-roll actions involving Devin Vassell to generate offense without Wembanyama’s gravity in the paint.
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Holiday avoids further sanction on contested play
Officials ruled the contact a standard non-shooting foul, noting Wembanyama lost balance independently after the whistle, a determination consistent with both the arena replay review and post-game officiating reports.
How long could Wembanyama be sidelined?
The NBA does not disclose specific concussion recovery timelines, but players typically miss anywhere from one game to several weeks depending on symptom severity and progression through the protocol’s stages.
What does this mean for the Spurs’ playoff chances?
San Antonio’s postseason outlook now hinges on the performance of its supporting cast and the team’s ability to limit Portland’s scoring opportunities in the absence of its primary rim protector and offensive hub.