MIAMI (AP) 鈥� Charlotte鈥檚 LaMelo Ball should have been ejected for an uncalled flagrant foul when he reached out and tugged on the ankle of Miami鈥檚 Bam Adebayo, causing a back injury of a play-in tournament game, the NBA said Wednesday.
The league said Ball made 鈥渦nnecessary and reckless contact鈥� with Adebayo on Tuesday night. Ball was fined $60,000 for the foul and for using profanity in an interview, but he remains eligible to play in the Hornets’ elimination game Friday against Orlando.
The flagrant foul from Tuesday鈥檚 game, if called in real time, would have resulted in Miami being awarded two free throws and possession of the ball. The Heat wound up ending their season.
The NBA said a flagrant foul, penalty two, was merited. If that had been called, Ball would have been ejected.
Adebayo was hurt early in the second quarter and did not return, leaving Miami without its best player. Ball made the decisive layup for the Hornets in overtime.
While he lauded the way Charlotte played, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said he felt Ball should have been ejected and wondered how officials Zach Zarba, Curtis Blair and Gediminas Petraitis all missed the incident.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think that belongs in the game, tripping guys, shenanigans,鈥� Spoelstra said. 鈥淐urtis was there. It鈥檚 his responsibility to see that. And if it鈥檚 not his responsibility, then Zach鈥檚 got to see it. Somebody鈥檚 got to see that. He should have been thrown out of the game for that. I don鈥檛 know him from anyone. There鈥檚 no place in the game for that.鈥�
Per NBA rules, the Heat could not challenge the ruling on the play because no foul was called. Play continued, leaving no opportunity for a replay review.
鈥淭he play wasn鈥檛 whistled in real time,鈥� Zarba told a pool reporter. 鈥淧lay continued with a fast break. And because play wasn鈥檛 stopped immediately, and there was no whistle on the play, the window to review the play was closed.鈥�
Ball was fined $35,000 for the foul on Adebayo. He was fined $25,000 for using profanity in an on-court postgame interview. The league did not publicly address a separate incident where during the postgame celebration.
Tuesday’s play was reminiscent of one during a game at Miami in January 2024, when Ball grabbed at Adebayo鈥檚 leg as the Heat center was running to the other end of the court. Adebayo stumbled but did not fall.
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