Wembanyama Injured, Enters Concussion Protocol

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama sustained a hard fall during the second quarter of Tuesday's playoff matchup against Portland. Wembanyama tumbled face-first onto the court and has since been placed in the concussion protocol, with the team confirming he will not return to the game.

The injury occurred when Wembanyama was fouled by Portland's Jrue Holiday. The 7-foot-4 center from France was unable to brace his fall, resulting in his jaw hitting the court. He remained down for a period before being attended to by teammates and coach Mitch Johnson, who called a timeout. Wembanyama then headed directly to the locker room for examination.

This incident is a major concern for the Spurs, who are in the playoffs for the first time since 2019 and are facing Portland in the Western Conference first-round series. Wembanyama, who averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, and a league-best 3.1 blocks this season, was unanimously named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year on Monday.