The NBA announced that Hornets guard LaMelo Ball received a Flagrant Foul 2 and a $35,000 fine for “making unnecessary and reckless contact” with Heat center Bam Adebayo during Tuesday’s play-in game.
He was also fined $25,000 for “using profane language during a live postgame television interview.”
Because of the ruling, Ball will not be suspended for Friday’s game in Orlando, where Charlotte will try to secure the No. 8 seed.
The play happened in the first half after Ball’s shot was blocked by Miami’s Simone Fontecchio. As he fell, Ball grabbed Adebayo’s foot, pulling him down while Adebayo was going for the rebound.
No foul was called at the time, though a Flagrant 2 would have resulted in an ejection. Ball later scored the game-winning layup in overtime to end Miami’s season.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called it a “dangerous play” and said Ball should have been “thrown out of the game.”
“There’s no place in the game for that,” Spoelstra added.
Adebayo left with a lower back injury after the fall, finishing with six points and three rebounds in 11:26.
Ball expressed regret afterward, saying, “I apologize on that one. I got hit in the head, didn’t know where I was. But I’m going to check on (Adebayo) and see if he is OK and everything.”
LaMelo Ball Fined $60K, But Won’t Be Suspended https://t.co/VMfrIgmplK pic.twitter.com/740Te4rVLb
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 16, 2026
