The San Antonio Spurs have NBA championship expectations, largely on the back of their young superstar Victor Wembanyama. The towering, lanky Frenchman is fresh off winning Defensive Player of the Year and being named an MVP finalist.
The second-seeded Spurs are currently matched up with the seventh-seeded Portland Trail Blazers in a first-round Western Conference playoff series after the latter punched their postseason ticket through the play-in tournament.
However, Spurs fans are in collective shock, as early in Game 2, Wembanyama took a brutal fall and smacked his head on the hardwood, forcing him to head to the locker room.
Latest Update On Victor Wembanyama’s Injury Status After Scary Fall
With 8:57 left in the second quarter, Wembanyama checked out after a frightening fall that appeared to knock him out temporarily.
Victor Wembanyama (concussion protocol) is OUT for the remainder of the game after hitting his head on the court. pic.twitter.com/qP8tAf6osN
— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) April 22, 2026
Unsurprisingly, this ultimately ended the two-time All-Star’s night.
According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, Wembanyama has now entered the NBA’s concussion protocol and has been ruled out for the rest of the game.
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has entered concussion protocol and is out for remainder of Game 2 vs. Portland.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 22, 2026
Wembanyama’s worrying fall has raised doubts about his availability for the rest of the series.
With that in mind, Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor provided the average concussion recovery timeline.
“Victor Wembanyama’s fall sure looked like a concussion. Knocked out cold after his chin hit the ground. The average NBA recovery time for a concussion is 7-10 days. 7 days would be Game 5. 10 days would be Game 7,” O’Connor wrote.
While a possible concussion is a concern, the Spurs will await further information on the severity of the 22-year-old’s injury and hold out hope that he won’t miss too much time.
Without Wembanyama, it will be all hands on deck. Look for increased opportunities for Luke Kornet, the former Boston Celtics center, who is an excellent backup option. Julian Champagnie and reserve forward Harrison Barnes will also play a role on both ends of the floor.
Meanwhile, San Antonio’s starting guards Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox will likely handle most of the scoring load. In Game 1’s 111-98 home victory over the Trail Blazers, their 34 combined points were fewer than Wembanyama’s 35 points (the most in a playoff debut in Spurs history).
The otherworldly French big man was in stunning form, shooting 13-for-21 from the field and 5-for-6 from 3-point range. This shows just how tough a task it will be to make up for Wembanyama’s absence.
Nevertheless, according to StatMuse, the Spurs went 12-6 during the regular season without their leading man, providing hope they can manage any short-term injury.
