Wembanyama (concussion protocol) leaves game against Blazers

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was ruled out for the remainder of the first-round playoff game against the Blazers after being placed in concussion protocol.

The star of the San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama ruled out for the remainder of Tuesday’s first-round playoff game against the Portland Trail Blazers in San Antonio after being included in the concussion protocol.

Wembanyama suffered a bad fall while trying to recover a loose ball in the first half, hitting his head on the court.

He scored five points and grabbed four rebounds in 12 minutes before leaving the game.

Wemby remained on the court for about 30 seconds before rising to a sitting position — a position he remained in for about a minute — and speaking to his teammate, Stephon Castle. San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson called a timeout to check on Wembanyama, who, after standing up, immediately headed toward the locker room tunnel.

The Spurs later reported that the player had entered concussion protocol and would not return to the game.

Any prolonged absence of Wembanyama would be a blow to San Antonio, a team that finished the season with the second-best record in the league, boosted by the versatility of its 7-foot-2 French center.

San Antonio is in the playoffs for the first time since 2019 and managed to beat Portland in the first game of the series.

On Monday, Wembanyama was awarded the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, winning the award unanimously. Throughout this season, he averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game, the latter figure placing him as the league leader.

With information from the Associated Press.