Victor Wembanyama Enters Concussion Protocol After Fall Against Portland Trail Blazers

Victor Wembanyama left Game 2 of the Spurs’ first-round playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers after a hard fall in the second quarter, and the Spurs placed him in the NBA’s concussion protocol.

“Victor Wembanyama has a concussion after falling face-first to court in loss to Blazers Victor Wembanyama has a concussion after falling face-first to court in loss to Blazers SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol after tumbling face-first to the court in the second quarter of Tuesday night’s playoff loss to Portland”

AP News

ESPN reported that the injury happened during the second quarter of Tuesday night’s Game 2 playoff loss, noting that Wembanyama played just 12 minutes before being placed in the protocol and ruled out for the game.

AP News

The Spurs’ coach Mitch Johnson said after the 106-103 loss, “I just know he has a concussion and he's in the protocol,” and added, “We'll obviously take the proper and appropriate steps.”

USA Today likewise said Wembanyama was diagnosed with a concussion and left Game 2 after a fall in which he hit his head on the floor, quoting Johnson: “He has a concussion and he’s in the protocol, and we’ll obviously take the proper and appropriate steps.”

Multiple accounts placed the moment at 8:57 remaining in the second quarter, when Wembanyama was fouled by Jrue Holiday and then fell face-first to the court.

The New York Times described Wembanyama as trying to make a move to the basket with Holiday defending, then “lost his balance and fell forward,” remaining on the ground for several seconds.

The Spurs ruled him out for the remainder of the game after the formal diagnosis initiated a 48-hour league-mandated recovery period, and the series shifted to Portland for Game 3 on Friday.

Across the reports, the key issue after Wembanyama’s diagnosis was the league’s concussion protocol and the timeline for return-to-play evaluation.

ESPN said that under the league’s concussion protocol guidelines, “a player cannot return to full participation for 48 hours after the time of the injury but can resume gradual activity after 24 hours as long as symptoms don't worsen.”

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ESPN also described the next steps as requiring “several benchmarks while being symptom-free before he is cleared to play,” followed by “clearance from the team doctor in consultation with the league protocol director.”

USA Today quoted the NBA’s concussion protocol language that “cannot return to participation: (i) for at least 48 hours, including the date of diagnosis; and (ii) until after he completes the required return-to-participation process.”

The New York Times similarly said the formal diagnosis “initiates a 48-hour league-mandated recovery period before he can go through a return to play evaluation,” while also stating that the door remained open for a potential return in time for Game 3 in Portland on Friday.

San Antonio Express-News added that the Spurs “could be without Victor Wembanyama for multiple games after he entered the NBA's concussion protocol,” and it reiterated that “if a player is diagnosed with a concussion, he cannot return to participating for at least 48 hours, including the date of diagnosis.”

Texas Public Radio reported that Wembanyama was “scheduled for further testing Wednesday,” and it emphasized that his availability for Game 3 was “uncertain.”

The concussion diagnosis came in the middle of a game that the Spurs ultimately lost 106-103, tying the first-round series at 1-1.

ESPN said the Spurs’ loss evened the first-round series at 1.

USA Today reported that the Blazers came back from a 14-point deficit with a little more than eight minutes to play to win 106-103, tying the series at one game apiece.

Texas Public Radio described how San Antonio opened the fourth quarter with a 13-0 run to go up 93-79, but Portland then stormed back behind Scoot Henderson, who scored a season-high 31 points.

Texas Public Radio said Portland took the lead for good on a 7-0 run capped by a Jrue Holiday layup with 2:02 remaining, and it added that Robert Williams III pushed Portland ahead 104-101 with a putback dunk with 12 seconds left.

The Guardian reported that San Antonio appeared poised to withstand his absence, building a 14-point lead early in the fourth quarter before its offense stalled, and it said Portland held the Spurs without a field goal over the final 3:37.

AP News said the Spurs squandered a double-digit fourth quarter lead to lose Game 2 106-103, and it noted that Wembanyama was fouled by Jrue Holiday after he spun around the Trail Blazers point guard in the paint, with his jaw hitting the court with 8:57 remaining in the second quarter.