Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) lies on the court in the course of the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said LaMelo Ball must have been ejected for tripping Bam Adebayo, resulting in a lower back injury that knocked the Heat’s star center out of Tuesday night’s 127-126 play-in tournament loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
Ball fell to the ground after missing a shot on a drive to the basket early within the second quarter, and appeared to achieve out together with his left arm and grab Adebayo’s left leg, causing the large man to fall on his back.
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Erik Spoelstra on LaMelo Ball tripping Bam Adebayo:
“I do not think it’s cute, I do not think it’s funny, it is a dangerous play … He must be penalized for that … Anyone’s got to see that. He should’ve been thrown out of the sport for that.”pic.twitter.com/EXEOTzG3nG
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) April 15, 2026
Ball was not called for a foul, and Adebayo remained on the ground as play continued. He eventually got up and walked to the locker room under his own power but didn’t return.
“He must have been thrown out of the sport for that,” Spoelstra said. “There is no such thing as a place in the sport for that.”
Adebayo didn’t speak to reporters.
Ball, who scored 30 points and made the go-ahead layup with 4.7 seconds left in additional time, apologized for his role in Adebayo’s injury but said he was disoriented because he had been hit in the top on the drive.
“I apologize on that one,” Ball said. “I got hit in the top and didn’t really know where I used to be. But I’m going to examine on him and see if he’s OK and all the things.”
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When asked if he intentionally grabbed Adebayo’s leg, Ball said he hadn’t seen a replay and added, “Like I said, I got hit in the top and didn’t know where I used to be and was just playing basketball. But like I said, sorry, and I’m going to examine on him.”
Ball remained in the sport and was not immediately checked for a concussion.
“I don’t think it’s cute, and I don’t think it’s funny,” Spoelstra said after the loss, which ended Miami’s season. “I feel it’s a silly play. It’s a dangerous play and clearly our greatest 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.
“That’s a shame. He must be penalized for that. I don’t think that belongs in the sport, you recognize, tripping guys, shenanigans.”
Official Zach Zarba explained in a pool report why the play was not reviewed.
READ: NBA: Spoelstra unapologetic after Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game
“The play wasn’t whistled in real time. Play continued with a quick break. And since 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, after which a timeout. So, by rule, our window to review that play then is closed.”
Zarba said the officiating crew reviewed the play at halftime.
When asked if Ball must have been assessed a flagrant foul, Zarba said, “At this point, that goes to league operations, they usually’ll make a determination on that in the approaching days. So, they are going to make that determination and go from there.”
Ball had just one flagrant foul this season, on Feb. 5 against Houston.
Andrew Wiggins said seeing Adebayo go down was a “gut punch” for the Heat.
“To lose the leader of the team, the captain of the team, seeing him go down was definitely tough and guys needed to rally around that,” Wiggins said.
Despite the lack of Adebayo, who scored 83 points in a game last month, Miami had a likelihood to win at the tip of regulation, but Tyler Herro missed a 3-pointer from the highest of the important thing.
In additional time, 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 the Hornets.
Miami’s Davion Mitchell said he hadn’t seen video of the play where Adebayo was hurt, but called it a “high-intensity game.”
“I didn’t grab no one’s ankle, but I grabbed any individual’s shirt,” Mitchell said. “I just think it was only a physical game because we were each fighting for our lives just to remain in. Obviously you don’t wish to see Bam get hurt, especially like that, however it was a physical game.”