Tuesday night’s NBA play-in tournament game was an eventful one for Hornets star LaMelo Ball. The young guard scored a game-high 30 points, including the game-winning layup in overtime.
He was also involved in what may have been the second most consequential play of the night in the second quarter. And for a while, it had the potential to impact him going forward with Charlotte in need of one more win to make the playoffs.
With just over 11 minutes remaining in the half, Ball took the ball into the paint and put up a floater that was blocked by Heat forward Simone Fontecchio. Bam Adebayo caught the loose ball and saved it from going out of bounds, passing it back to Fontecchio to start a fast break. As Adebayo came down, Ball grabbed his ankle, which appeared to cause his violent fall.
DID LAMELO TRIP BAM HERE!? 😬
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) April 15, 2026
Not an ideal start to the post season for Miami, as Bam Adebayo exits the court with a lower back injury after a hard landing.#NBA pic.twitter.com/s7x8OOoPIW
Adebayo, Miami’s best player, left the game with a back injury and would not return. The Hornets took home the win in overtime, 127–126, to advance in the play-in tournament, while the Heat were eliminated.
No foul was assessed on the play, though as we’ve seen before, the NBA can do so retroactively. And as league insider Chris Haynes reported, the league reviewed the play ahead Friday’s play-in tournament finale.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania on NBA Today, the league reached out to the Hornets and Heat about the situation, and was set to speak to Ball “and other related parties” directly during its investigation.
NBA announces fine, no suspension for Ball after investigation
After looking into the matter, the league revealed the results of its investigation in the middle of Wednesday’s play-in game between the 76ers and Magic. Ball will escape suspension—but was fined $35,000 and assessed a flagrant 2 for an act the NBA labeled “reckless.”
“Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball has been fined $35,000 and assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 upon league office review for making unneccesary and reckless contact with Miami Heat center-forward Bam Adebayo that created a significant injury risk,” the league’s statement read.
Additionally Ball was fined $25,000 for his use of profane language during his postgame interview after hitting the game-winning shot.
It’s official: Charlotte will have its star point guard available for Friday’s win-or-go-home play-in game.
Why was no foul called on Ball during the game?
Crew chief Zach Zarba was asked by the no-call after Tuesday’s game, and explained that because there was no immediate whistle, and no stoppage in play with the Heat going on a fast break off of Ball’s shot being blocked, the window to call a foul on Ball closed.
“The play wasn’t whistled in real time,” Zarba said. “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.”
Zarba said that the play was reviewed by the officials at the half, and said said that it is now up to the league to review the situation.
Ball explained his side of the play after the game
The Hornets guard said that the trip of Adebayo was an accident after he was hit on the head and was disoriented, and that he planned to check in on the Heat center.
“I apologize on that one. I got hit in the head, didn't really know where I was, but I'ma check on him and see if he's O.K. and everything,” Ball said Tuesday night.
When asked if the grab was intentional, Ball said, “I haven’t even seen it. Like I said, I got hit in the head, didn’t even know where I was. Just playing basketball.”
That is little solace for Miami, which now heads home for the offseason. Coach Erik Spoelstra said after the game that he believed the play was egregious enough that Ball should have been ejected.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as LaMelo Ball Escapes Suspension for ‘Reckless’ Play on Bam Adebayo.
