MINNEAPOLIS - San Antonio Spurs sensation Victor Wembanyama marked his first professional ejection Sunday in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals, delivering an elbow to the jaw of Minnesota Timberwolves forward Naz Reid shortly into the second quarter.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson refrained from fully endorsing Wembanyama's move but argued postgame, following San Antonio's 114-109 defeat, that referees should better shield the 22-year-old center from the constant "physicality" opponents direct at him.

"The level of physicality directed at him requires some self-protection at times," Johnson noted after the loss, which tied the series 2-2 before Game 5 in San Antonio on Tuesday. "On every possession across the court, opponents seek to assert physical dominance. He's been knocked down in transition while running unopposed. We stay quiet and play through it without complaint. But eventually, protection is needed. Otherwise, he'll have to defend himself, leading to incidents like this."

"It's becoming outrageous when he battles through contact professionally. I'm pleased he stood up for himself - not by striking Reid, but because if officials won't, he must. That's unacceptable."

Wembanyama drew an offensive foul immediately upon contact with Reid, who along with teammate Jaden McDaniels had pressured the 7-foot-4 NBA Defensive Player of the Year outside the paint after he grabbed a rebound off a Spurs missed 3-pointer.

Following video review of the strike - which landed on the right side of Reid's jaw and neck, spinning him to the floor - referee Zach Zarba elevated the call to a flagrant 2 for unnecessary force above the shoulders, resulting in automatic expulsion.

"His left arm was restrained, and players are trained to chin the ball," Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox explained. "Things like that occur. Had the foul been whistled earlier, it likely wouldn't have happened."

On the bench during the announcement, Wembanyama seemed to query teammate Harrison Barnes, "What does that signify?"

Exiting the court amid slaps with Spurs teammates as Michael Jackson's "Beat It" played overhead, Wembanyama left Reid to convert both free throws, putting Minnesota ahead 38-34. He ended with four points, four rebounds, and three fouls in 13 minutes.

"Frustration was evident," Spurs guard Dylan Harper observed. "It wasn't deliberate - more like, 'They're constantly holding me, so I must shield myself since no one else will.'"

Wembanyama's four points represent his career low across regular season and playoffs. The third-year star stayed in the locker room post-ejection and skipped media availability.

Nevertheless, he rallied teammates at halftime with the Spurs down 60-56.

"[He was] boosting morale and keeping spirits high despite being sidelined," guard Stephon Castle shared.

Wembanyama's exit at the 8:39 mark of the second quarter stands as the earliest playoff ejection for an All-Star in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98), per ESPN Research. Teams are now 1-8 when an All-Star is removed before the fourth quarter in playoffs.

A flagrant 2 foul incurs at least a $2,000 fine and faces league review for further penalties.

"Officials acted based on the play's result," Johnson remarked. "Fine, but any additional punishment would be absurd."