MIAMI — The NBA determined that Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball should have been ejected for an uncalled flagrant foul when he reached out and tugged on the ankle of Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo during Tuesday night’s play-in tournament game, causing a back injury that knocked the Heat’s best player out of a 127-126 overtime loss that ended Miami’s season. The league fined Ball a total of $60,000 — $35,000 for the foul on Adebayo and $25,000 for using profanity in an on-court postgame interview — but he remains eligible to play in the Hornets’ elimination game Friday against Orlando.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was livid after the game, saying Ball’s actions had no place in professional basketball. “He should have been thrown out of the game for that,” Spoelstra said. “There is no place in the game for that.” Spoelstra also questioned how officials Zach Zarba, Curtis Blair and Gediminas Petraitis all missed the incident. “I don’t think it’s cute, and I don’t think it’s funny,” Spoelstra said after the loss. “I think it’s a stupid play. It’s a dangerous play and obviously our best player was out. I’m not making an excuse. The Hornets played great and made those plays down the stretch. We had opportunities to win.”
Spoelstra continued his criticism, naming the officials he felt bore responsibility. “That’s a shame. He should be penalized for that. I don’t think that belongs in the game, tripping guys, shenanigans,” Spoelstra said. “Curtis was there. It’s his responsibility to see that. And if it’s not his responsibility, then Zach’s got to see it. Somebody’s got to see that. He should have been thrown out of the game for that. I don’t know him from anyone. There’s no place in the game for that.” The NBA said a flagrant foul, penalty two, was merited, which would have resulted in Ball’s ejection and awarded Miami two free throws and possession of the ball.
Ball, who scored 30 points and made the go-ahead layup with 4.7 seconds left in overtime, apologized for his role in Adebayo’s injury but said he was disoriented after being hit in the head on the drive. “I apologize on that one,” Ball said. “I got hit in the head and didn’t really know where I was. But I’m going to check on him and see if he is OK and everything.” When asked if he intentionally grabbed Adebayo’s leg, Ball said he hadn’t seen a replay. “Like I said, I got hit in the head and didn’t know where I was and was just playing basketball. But like I said, sorry, and I’m going to check on him,” Ball said. Ball remained in the game and was not immediately checked for a concussion. He had only one flagrant foul this season before the incident, on Feb. 5 against Houston.
The play occurred early in the second quarter when Ball fell to the floor after missing a shot on a drive to the basket and appeared to reach out with his left arm and grab Adebayo’s left leg, causing the big man to fall on his back. Ball was not called for a foul, and Adebayo remained on the floor as play continued. He eventually got up and walked to the locker room under his own power but did not return. Adebayo, who scored 83 points in a game last month, did not speak to reporters. The league said Ball made “unnecessary and reckless contact” with Adebayo.
Official Zach Zarba explained in a pool report why the play was not reviewed in real time. “The play wasn’t whistled in real time. Play continued with a fast break. And because play wasn’t stopped immediately, and there was no whistle on the play, the window to review the play was closed,” Zarba said. “Play was stopped, after a change of possession, and then a timeout. So, by rule, our window to review that play then is closed.” Zarba said the officiating crew reviewed the play at halftime. Per NBA rules, the Heat could not challenge the ruling because no foul was called.
Heat forward Andrew Wiggins said the loss of Adebayo devastated the team’s morale. “To lose the leader of the team, the captain of the team, seeing him go down was definitely tough and guys had to rally around that,” Wiggins said. Despite playing without Adebayo, Miami had a chance to win at the end of regulation, but Tyler Herro missed a 3-pointer from the top of the key. In overtime, Herro put the Heat up by one when he made three free throws with 8.7 seconds left after getting fouled by Ball following a Hornets turnover. Before that play, Herro hit a turnaround corner 3. But Ball’s driving layup saved the day for Charlotte.
Miami’s Davion Mitchell said he hadn’t seen video of the play where Adebayo was hurt but acknowledged the physical nature of the contest. “I didn’t grab nobody’s ankle, but I grabbed somebody’s shirt,” Mitchell said. “I just think it was just a physical game because we were both fighting for our lives just to stay in. Obviously you don’t want to see Bam get hurt, especially like that, but it was a physical game.” The league did not publicly address a separate incident where Ball struck Charlotte’s mascot during the postgame celebration. The incident was reminiscent of a play during a game at Miami in January 2024, when Ball grabbed at Adebayo’s leg as the Heat center was running to the other end of the court; Adebayo stumbled but did not fall.
Ball and the Hornets are scheduled to face the Orlando Magic in an elimination game Friday, where Charlotte will attempt to advance in the play-in tournament.