Naz Reid recovers from hit to help Timberwolves tie Spurs series

Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid. Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Naz Reid recovers from hit to help Timberwolves tie Spurs series

By Sean Keane | Last updated May 11, 2026 1:29 AM ET

Naz Reid took a vicious elbow from Victor Wembanyama early in Sunday's Game 4 that got the French big man kicked out. Then Reid took his revenge on the San Antonio Spurs in the fourth quarter.

Reid shook off Wemby's elbow and came back from a fourth-quarter leg injury to put up six points, three rebounds and two assists down the stretch. His last basket with 39 seconds left was the dagger in the Minnesota Timberwolves' series-evening 114-109 win.

Naz Reid played through the pain

Early in the second quarter, Wembanyama came down with a rebound and, perhaps out of frustration, swung an elbow directly into Reid's neck. Reid hit the deck, teammate Jaden McDaniels wrapped up Wemby, and after a video review, the officials sent Wembanyama to the locker room — and the NBA could have more discipline later.

Despite the neck discomfort, Reid hit both flagrant free throws. After the game, he told reporters, "Pain is weakness leaving the body, that's it."

Victor Wembanyama was given a flagrant 2 for this elbow on Naz Reid. pic.twitter.com/nYszYUspwJ
— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) May 11, 2026

The absence of Wembanyama opened up the lane for the Wolves, who had 50 points in the paint. Reid's three-point shot wasn't falling — Wemby harassed him into a miss off the side of the backboard — but he went 6-for-8 on two-pointers and played tough defense even on the Spurs' athletic young guards.

Naz Reid was a crucial offensive option versus San Antonio Spurs

Reid finished with 15 points, the second-leading total among the Wolves players, behind Anthony Edwards' 36. In a game that didn't see a lot of assists, in large part due to both teams' stifling defense, Reid's four dimes were crucial, as was his finishing with only one turnover. The biggest one was a no-look pass to Rudy Gobert for a three-point play that got the Wolves a lead they'd never relinquish.

Naz Reid no-look post-up pass to Rudy Gobert the for layup + foul pic.twitter.com/8XL3iYmRKN
— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) May 11, 2026

The Wolves will need this version of Reid on both ends of the court with Wembanyama back in Game 5, barring a suspension. For the shorthanded Timberwolves, playing without the injured Donte DiVincenzo, Reid needs to keep lighting it up off the bench if the Wolves are going to complete another upset.

As Game 4 showed, it's going to take more than one Spurs center elbowing Reid and another falling on him to slow him down.

Sean Keane

Sean Keane is a sportswriter and a comedian based in Oakland, California, with experience covering the NBA, MLB, NFL and Ice Cube’s three-on-three basketball league, The Big 3. He’s written for Comedy Central’s “Another Period,” ESPN the Magazine, and Audible. com

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