April 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\nThe league said Ball made \u201cunnecessary and reckless contact\u201d 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\u2019 elimination game Friday against Orlando.<\/p>\n
The flagrant foul from Tuesday\u2019s 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 losing 127-126 in overtime, ending their season.<\/p>\n
The NBA said a flagrant foul, penalty two, was merited. If that had been called, Ball would have been ejected.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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Heat Hornets Basketball Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) lies on the court during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Nell Redmond) (Nell Redmond\/AP)<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think that belongs in the game, tripping guys, shenanigans,\u201d Spoelstra said. \u201cCurtis was there. It\u2019s his responsibility to see that. And if it\u2019s not his responsibility, then Zach\u2019s got to see it. Somebody\u2019s got to see that. He should have been thrown out of the game for that. I don\u2019t know him from anyone. There\u2019s no place in the game for that.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe play wasn\u2019t whistled in real time,\u201d Zarba told a pool reporter. \u201cPlay continued with a fast break. And because play wasn\u2019t stopped immediately, and there was no whistle on the play, the window to review the play was closed.\u201d<\/p>\n
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 Ball struck Charlotte\u2019s mascot during the postgame celebration.<\/p>\n
Tuesday\u2019s play was reminiscent of one during a game at Miami in January 2024, when Ball grabbed at Adebayo\u2019s leg as the Heat center was running to the other end of the court. Adebayo stumbled but did not fall.<\/p>\n
VIDEO: Hornets to face Magic in final play-in battle<\/p>\n
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Hornets to face Magic in final play-in battle <\/p>\n
\u00a92026 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n