Spurs' Wembanyama has concussion after face-first fall vs. Blazers

Key Points:

• San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was placed in the NBA concussion protocol after a face-first fall during the second quarter of Tuesday's playoff loss to Portland, raising concerns about his availability for upcoming games.
• Wembanyama's injury is significant for the Spurs, who finished the regular season with the league's second-best record largely due to his performance; he recently won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award unanimously.
• Under NBA concussion protocols, Wembanyama must undergo at least 48 hours of rest and pass neurological tests before returning to play, making his participation in Game 3 on Friday unlikely.
• Spurs coach Mitch Johnson emphasized following the concussion protocol strictly, while teammates acknowledged the need for others to step up in Wembanyama’s absence, noting the team went 12-6 without him during the regular season.
• Wembanyama had five points, four rebounds, and one block in 12 minutes before exiting the game; veteran Luke Kornet replaced him and contributed 10 points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes.