The Hornets vs. Heat play-in game wasn’t short of controversy, after LaMelo Ball caused a nasty injury for Bam Adebayo, who wasn’t able to return to the game.
Miami were without their best player for pretty much three whole quarters, after Bam went down early in the second.
He was falling after trying to keep the ball inbound and LaMelo grabbed his foot, which seemed to cause him to fall hard and land on his tailbone / back.
Bam Adebayo has gone to the locker room after a nasty fall 😬
Was this a dirty play by LaMelo? 🤔
(via NBA) pic.twitter.com/f5f9ZoKpb0
— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) April 15, 2026
There was no action taken by the referees over the play and the Heat later ruled him out of the game with a lower back injury.
The Hornets went on to win the game in crazy fashion, with an insane play by none other than LaMelo himself.
LaMelo Ball FOR THE WIN OMG 🤯
(via NBA) pic.twitter.com/dYhv1HQcfw
— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) April 15, 2026
LaMelo apologized for his actions in his postgame press conference.
“I apologize on that one,” he said. “I got hit on the head, didn’t really know where I was. But I’m going to check on him and see if he’s going to be OK.”
After the game, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra expressed frustration with the lack of consequences for Ball’s dirty play.
“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. Obviously our best player was out. I’m not making an excuse. The Hornets played great. They made those plays down the stretch. We had our opportunities down the stretch. That’s a shame. He should’ve been penalized for that. Tripping guys, shenanigans. [Referre] Curtis [Blair] was there, it was his responsibility to see that, and if it’s not his responsibility, [crew chief] Zach [Zarba]’s got to see that. Somebody has got to see that. He should’ve been thrown out of the game for that.”
Tyler Herro’s also shared his thoughts on Bam’s injury.
“It was crazy. I’ve played with Bam for a long time and I usually never really see him limp like that, he’s usually a guy that stays in, that tells you how much pain he’s in. He can barely walk to the back and I saw the video he fell really hard…I mean we all know — it was not the right play.”
This marks the first time in six seasons Miami won’t have made the playoffs.
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