Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo was forced to leave the team’s Play-In Tournament game in the second quarter after he appeared to be tripped by Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball on a loose ball. The Heat star is questionable to return with a lower-back injury, while Miami’s bench was incensed that no foul was called on the play.
With 11:10 remaining in the second quarter, Ball attempted a floater, but it was blocked by Miami’s Simone Fontecchio. Adebayo saved the ball from going out of bounds, sending it back to Fontecchio to save the possession.
As Fontechhio blocked the shot, he made contact with Ball, who fell to the ground. As he came down, the Hornets’ star pulled Adebayo’s leg as Adebayo tried to land, forcing the Heat big man to fall to the floor.
Should LaMelo Ball have been called for a flagrant foul for this play on Bam Adebayo? pic.twitter.com/5zH7DCfZBH
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) April 15, 2026
Over the ensuing possessions, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and other players were upset no infraction was called. The play was also not reviewed for a flagrant foul, though, as Prime sideline reporter Cassidy Hubbarth explained, that was not possible because it included a change of possession and the game continued immediately after the injury, so there was no stoppage to give officials a chance to review the play. Once a play resumes, officials are not allowed to then go back and review a play that occurred before the next stoppage.
At halftime, Prime analyst Udonis Haslem, who has notable ties to the Heat, said that he did not think Ball was intentionally trying to hurt Adebayo’s ankle.
“Definitely a little WWE there,” Haslem said. “What I will say is LaMelo is not a dirty player, so I don’t think he meant to do that intentionally to try to hurt Bam. But in the heat of the moment … you sometimes make split second decisions. I think he made a split second decision.”
Haslem did call out the officials for not calling any sort of foul on the play.
