Hornets’ Ball fined $60K total for pair of play-in incidents

NBA fined on Wednesday night Hornets star lamelo ball $35,000 for “unnecessary and reckless contact”. bomb adebayo of Miami Heat During Tuesday’s play-in game in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The league said the game “posed a significant injury risk” for Adebayo, who suffered a lower back injury and did not return to the contest, playing only 11 minutes overall, ending Miami’s season. 127-126 The overtime loss – one in which Ball made the winning basket on a layup with 4.7 seconds remaining.

Ball was also assessed Serious Foul 2 after the league reviewed the incident on Wednesday. He was not called for a foul during Tuesday’s game.

Additionally, the NBA said Wednesday night that Ball was fined $25,000 for using profanity during a post-game TV interview.

The next match between Ball and Hornets will be on Friday orlando magicWith the winner clinching the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

A controversial play on the Heat’s star big man Adebayo occurred early in the second quarter Tuesday.

After Ball’s shot was blocked inbounds, Adebayo grabbed the rebound and tried to stay in bounds. The ball fell near the heat center and hit his leg, causing him to fall to the floor with a force without any whistle. The game started down the floor while Adebayo remained down. after miami pelle larson Scored on a layup and Ball scored on a dunk, the Heat called timeout with 10:58 left in the quarter.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after the loss that Ball should have been thrown out but the officials missed the play.

“I did not see it [when it happened]But I don’t think it’s cute,” Spoelstra said. “I don’t think it’s funny. I think it’s a stupid drama. This is a dangerous game. Obviously, our best player is out. I am not making any excuses. The Hornets played very well and they made those plays. We had opportunities to win. that’s a shame. You should be punished for this. I don’t think it’s included in the game. The stragglers, the conspirators.”

Ball apologized twice after the Hornets’ victory.

“I apologize for it,” he said of the trip. “My head hurts [on the play] And didn’t really know where I was. But I’m going to check on him, see if he’s okay and everything.”

Official Zack Zerba said the team could not review the play.

“The play was not whistled in real time,” Zerba told a pool reporter. “The game continued with a fast break. And because the play was not stopped immediately, and there was no whistle on the play, the window to review the play was closed. The game was stopped after a change of possession, and then a time out. So, as per the rules, our window to review that play is closed.”

After Tuesday’s play-in game, video resurfaced of another incident between Ball and Adebayo. In the Heat’s regular season win on January 14, 2024, Ball was on the floor and then appeared to intentionally reach Adebayo’s leg as the Heat’s big man began running down the court.