The San Antonio Spurs received a major boost on Monday when it was confirmed that Victor Wembanyama would not face additional discipline for his Game 4 ejection, making him available for Tuesday's pivotal Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The news sent immediate ripples through the betting markets, with the Spurs shifting from 9.5-point favorites to 10.5-point favorites at the Frost Bank Center.

The drama unfolded during Sunday's Game 4 when Wembanyama caught Timberwolves forward Naz Reid in the neck with his right elbow while fighting for a rebound early in the second quarter. The play was assessed as a flagrant 2 foul, resulting in an automatic ejection for the Spurs' phenom. At the time of the incident, San Antonio trailed just 36-34, but they ultimately fell 114-109, knotting the series at 2-2.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson came to his star's defense after the game, pointing to the relentless physicality Wembanyama faces on a nightly basis. "Every single play, people are trying to impose their physicality on him," Johnson said. "He's gotten chucked, pushed down in transition—he never complains. At some stage, he has to protect himself, and unfortunately, stuff like that happens."

Despite losing their franchise player for most of the contest, Johnson praised his team's resilience. "We were leading until the end," he noted. "Minnesota made some plays, but the guys reacted in a phenomenal way."

The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, has already adjusted its simulations with Wembanyama back in the lineup. For a Spurs team looking to reclaim home-court advantage, having their 7-foot-4 anchor available could be the difference between advancing or facing elimination. Fans packing the Frost Bank Center will be hoping his presence sparks a series-changing performance.