During Tuesday night’s play-in matchup between the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat, a questionable play by LaMelo Ball sent Bam Adebayo crashing to the hardwood, resulting in a lower back injury that forced the latter out for the remainder of the game.
After the game, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra called for Ball to be “penalized” and said he should’ve “been thrown out.” Will Ball get suspended for Charlotte’s next play-in game?
Will LaMelo Ball Get Fined or Suspended for Controversial Bam Adebayo Play?
The incident occurred in the second quarter of Tuesday’s game. Ball attempted a fadeaway jumper but missed. Adebayo then moved in to grab the rebound near the boundary line, trying to keep the ball in play.
At that moment, Ball, who had already fallen to the floor, made a questionable move. While on the ground, he swung his left arm toward Adebayo’s legs and appeared to swipe at his foot. The contact caused Adebayo to lose balance and crash onto the floor on his tailbone.
Replay of LaMelo Ball grabbing Bam Adebayo’s ankle before Bam Adebayo landed on his tailbone pic.twitter.com/KVv1rkjxm2
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) April 15, 2026
After being checked by trainers, Adebayo managed to get himself up and walked off the floor slowly towards the locker room. The Heat listed him as questionable to return with a lower back injury, but he was eventually ruled out, and Spoelstra inserted Sixth Man of the Year candidate Jaime Jaquez Jr. in his place.
However, the biggest surprise was how the officials handled the situation in real time. Ball was neither called for a flagrant foul nor was he ejected, and the play wasn’t reviewed. After the game, crew chief Zach Zarba explained why it couldn’t be reviewed.
“The play wasn’t whistled in real time,” Zarba explained. “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. Play was stopped, after a change of possession, and then a time out. So, by rule, our window to review that play then is closed.”
“At this point, that goes to league operations, and they’ll make a determination on that in the coming days,” Zarba further added. “So, they will make that determination and go from there.”
According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the NBA will review the incident and “Ruling expected before Hornets’ final play-in bout on Friday.” There have been multiple cases in which players were fined or suspended the next day after further review.
Sources: NBA to review Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball for taking out ankle of Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo in 2nd Q, resulting in hard spill and back injury that cost him rest of crucial do-or-die play-in contest. Ruling expected before Hornets’ final play-in bout on Friday. pic.twitter.com/o6z9FwFziA
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) April 15, 2026
It remains to be seen whether the NBA would suspend Ball for Charlotte’s next win-or-go-home play-in game, but at the very least, a fine seems likely for the “dangerous play,” as Spoelstra described it.
After the Hornets won 127-126 in overtime, Spoelstra had a lot of things to say during his postgame press conference.
Erik Spoelstra on LaMelo Ball’s dirty play on Bam:
“I don’t think it’s cute. I don’t think it’s funny. I think it’s a stupid play. It’s a dangerous play. He should be penalized for that. I don’t think that belongs in the game, tripping guys. Somebody has got to see that. He… pic.twitter.com/7pbCWPnUv8
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) April 15, 2026
“I don’t think it’s cute. I don’t think it’s funny,” Spoelstra said. “I think it’s a stupid play. It’s a dangerous play. He should be penalized for that. I don’t think that belongs in the game, tripping guys. Somebody has got to see that. He should have been thrown out of the game for that…
“There’s no place in the game for those kind of shenanigans. It wasn’t needed and he was frustrated. I think he felt like he got fouled so he takes the liberty of yanking somebody. That should be penalized.”
Now, all eyes will be on the league office to see if they agree with Spoelstra’s assessment.
