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Adebayo injured after trip; Ball's play ends Heat

PUBLISHED Apr 15, 2026, 12:28 AM ET

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Media Bias Meter

Sources: 11

Center 100%

Sources: 11

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In Tuesday's play-in tournament game, Charlotte guard LaMelo Ball appeared to reach out and grab Miami center Bam Adebayo's left leg after missing a shot early in the second quarter, causing Adebayo to fall and sustain a lower back injury that forced him from the game. Adebayo remained on the floor as play continued, eventually walked to the locker room under his own power and did not return, and the Heat lost 127-126 in overtime. Coach Erik Spoelstra said Ball should have been ejected for the play, calling it 'a stupid play' and 'dangerous' and saying there is 'no place in the game' for tripping. Ball scored 30 points, made the go-ahead layup in overtime and apologized after the game, saying he had been hit in the head on the drive and was disoriented. Adebayo did not speak to reporters. Official Zach Zarba said the play was not whistled in real time so the review window closed; the crew reviewed the play at halftime and league operations will determine whether a flagrant foul or further discipline is warranted.

By Sarah Whitman | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

April 14: Play-in game between Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets.
Early second quarter (~11 minutes remaining): LaMelo Ball appears to swipe Adebayo's ankle; Adebayo falls.
Adebayo exits with reported lower back injury and does not return.
Game proceeds to overtime; Hornets win 127-126 after Ball's go-ahead layup with 4.7 seconds left.
Postgame: Coach Erik Spoelstra demands ejection; Ball apologizes and cites head contact; medical updates and possible league review are awaited.

News Intelligence

If you're a Miami Heat fan, losing Adebayo is a blow. His injury could impact the team's performance in future games. Keep an eye on official updates for his recovery timeline. If you're a Hornets fan, Ball's actions might raise questions about fair play.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 11
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 11

Who Benefited

The Charlotte Hornets benefited in the short term by advancing after the 127-126 play-in win, while LaMelo Ball's performance (30 points) helped secure the game result.

Who Impacted

Miami Heat and center Bam Adebayo suffered a season-impacting loss and a lower-back injury that removed their starter from the play-in game.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 11
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 11
Distribution:: Left 0%, Center 100%, Right 0%

Who Benefited

The Charlotte Hornets benefited in the short term by advancing after the 127-126 play-in win, while LaMelo Ball's performance (30 points) helped secure the game result.

Who Impacted

Miami Heat and center Bam Adebayo suffered a season-impacting loss and a lower-back injury that removed their starter from the play-in game.