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Om Youngmisuk
multiple authors
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The NBA is investigating. lamelo ballTravel bomb adebayoresulting in Miami Heat The star suffered a lower back injury during Tuesday’s play-in game against charlotte hornetsSources tell ESPN’s Shams Charania.
charlotte won the game 127-126 in overtimeBall scored the winning basket on a layup with 4.7 seconds remaining. Adebayo did not return from the injury and only played 11 minutes.
Sources told Charania that the league has contacted both the Hornets and Heat and will interview Ball.
The Hornets next face the loser of Wednesday night on Friday philadelphia 76ers–orlando magic Play-in game. Sources told Charania that it was possible the ball play could be upgraded to Serious Foul 1 or Serious Foul 2, but it was doubtful it would escalate to a suspension.
The game took place at the beginning of the second quarter.
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 after the Heat missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 season. “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.”
Asked whether the game should have been elevated to the level of a serious foul, Zerba said league operations would make that decision in the coming days.
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.
