Ohm YoungmisukApr 15, 2026, 04:41 PM ETCloseOhm Youngmisuk has covered the Giants, Jets and the NFL since 2006. Prior to that, he covered the Nets, Knicks and the NBA for nearly a decade. He joined ESPNNewYork.com after working at the New York Daily News for almost 12 years and is a graduate of Michigan State University. Follow him on Twitter »Follow on XMultiple Authors
Should LaMelo have been ejected for tripping Bam? (1:23)Iman Shumpert and Vincent Goodwill discuss LaMelo Ball tripping Bam Adebayo in the Hornets’ win over the Heat. (1:23)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The NBA is investigating LaMelo Ball’s trip of Bam Adebayo that resulted in the Miami Heat star’s lower back injury during Tuesday’s play-in game against the Charlotte Hornets, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Charlotte won the game 127-126 in overtime, with Ball scoring the winning basket on a layup with 4.7 seconds left. Adebayo did not return after suffering the injury, playing just 11 minutes.
The Hornets next play Friday against the loser of Wednesday night’s Philadelphia 76ers-Orlando Magic play-in game. It’s possible the Ball play is upgraded to a flagrant foul 1 or a flagrant foul 2, but there is doubt that it would rise to a suspension, sources told Charania.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after the loss that Ball should have been ejected but that officials missed the play.
“I apologize on that one,” he said of the trip. “I got hit in the head [on the play] and didn’t really know where I was. But I’m going to check on him, see if he’s OK and everything.”
“The play wasn’t whistled in real time,” Zarba said to a pool reporter. “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.”
Asked if the play should have risen to the level of a flagrant foul, Zarba said league operations will make that determination in the coming days.
After Tuesday’s play-in game, video resurfaced of another incident between Ball and Adebayo. In a Heat regular-season win on Jan. 14, 2024, Ball was on the floor and then appeared to intentionally reach for Adebayo’s leg as the Heat big man started to run up the court.
“I didn’t see it [when it happened], but I don’t think it’s cute,” Spoelstra said after the Heat missed the playoffs the first time since the 2018-19 season. “I don’t think it’s funny. I think it’s a stupid play. It’s a dangerous play. Obviously, our best player was out. I’m not making an excuse. The Hornets played great and they made those plays down the stretch. We had our opportunities to win. That’s a shame. You should be penalized for that. I don’t think that belongs in the game. Tripping guys, shenanigans.”
Should LaMelo have been ejected for tripping Bam? (1:23)Iman Shumpert and Vincent Goodwill discuss LaMelo Ball tripping Bam Adebayo in the Hornets’ win over the Heat. (1:23)
Iman Shumpert and Vincent Goodwill discuss LaMelo Ball tripping Bam Adebayo in the Hornets’ win over the Heat. (1:23)
Ohm YoungmisukApr 15, 2026, 04:41 PM ETCloseOhm Youngmisuk has covered the Giants, Jets and the NFL since 2006. Prior to that, he covered the Nets, Knicks and the NBA for nearly a decade. He joined ESPNNewYork.com after working at the New York Daily News for almost 12 years and is a graduate of Michigan State University. Follow him on Twitter »Follow on XMultiple Authors
CloseOhm Youngmisuk has covered the Giants, Jets and the NFL since 2006. Prior to that, he covered the Nets, Knicks and the NBA for nearly a decade. He joined ESPNNewYork.com after working at the New York Daily News for almost 12 years and is a graduate of Michigan State University. Follow him on Twitter »Follow on X
Official Zach Zarba said the crew could not review the play.