yahoo - 4/16/2026 4:57:27 AM - GMT (+2 )
The NBA fined Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball $35,000 and assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 on Wednesday, April 15, for the play that injured Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo in the teams' April 14 Play-In Tournament game.
Ball seemingly tripped Adebayo — the league called it "unnecessary and reckless contact" — during the second quarter of Tuesday night's game, causing Adebayo to fall and creating what the league called “a significant injury risk.”
Ball will not face a suspension, however.
"I apologize on that one," Ball told reporters after the game. "I got hit in the head and didn’t really know where I was, but I’m going to check in on him to see if he’s OK and everything."
More: Bam Adebayo injury after LaMelo Ball tie-up has Erik Spoelstra fuming
Adebayo suffered a lower back injury as a result of the fall and did not return to the game, which the Hornets won 127-126 in overtime. The foul took place with 11:13 left in the second quarter of the game.
Ball was fined an additional $25,000 for his use of “profane language” during a postgame television interview.
LaMelo Ball and the Hornets will play at the No. 8 seed Orlando Magic at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, April 17. The game will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LaMelo Ball punished by NBA for play that injured Bam Adebayo
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