The NBA announced (via Twitter) that Hornets guard LaMelo Ball has been assessed a flagrant foul 2 and fined $35K for “making unnecessary and reckless contact” with Heat center Bam Adebayo during Tuesday’s play-in game. Ball also received a $25K fine for “using profane language during a live postgame television interview.”
The action means Ball won’t be suspended for Friday’s game at Orlando, which will determine whether Charlotte can advance to the playoffs as the No. 8 seed.
The play occurred in the first half when Ball had his shot blocked by Miami’s Simone Fontecchio. Ball fell to the court and grabbed Adebayo’s foot, bringing him to the floor as he grabbed the rebound and passed the ball to Fontecchio (video link via NBA.com).
Ball would have been ejected if the officials had whistled a flagrant 2 when the play happened, but no call was made at the time. He wound up hitting a game-winning layup in the closing seconds of overtime to end the Heat’s season.
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra called it a “dangerous play” in his post-game session with the media and said Ball should have been “thrown out of the game” for his actions. “There’s no place in the game for that,” Spoelstra added.
After a hard landing, Adebayo limped to the locker room and was ruled out in the second half due to a lower back injury. He was only available for 11:26, finishing with six points and three rebounds.
Ball expressed regret after the game, according to Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer (subscription required).
“I apologize on that one,” he said. “I got hit in the head, didn’t know where I was. But I’m going to check on (Adebayo) and see if he is OK and everything.”
bullcrap… IT’S THE SECOND TIME HE DID IT!!!
NBA just admitted the refs cost the Heat their season too.. nice
So, we’ve determined that the cost of depriving the opposing team of their best player is $35K…
Can the Heat protest the game?
He should be suspended. Just awful call. You only have to see the video once. Just nuts.
Agree. Dirty play and cost the Heat the game.
Can’t believe the Sixers won. Nobody for Magic showed up except Bane. Unreal man. I said Sixers were dangerous. But I meant with Embiid.
Maaaannn Celtics better be ready.
Magic lockerroom vibes are apparently rancid right now.
“I apologize on that one,” he said. “I got hit in the head, didn’t know where I was. But I’m going to check on (Adebayo) and see if he is OK and everything.”
And you looked right at Adebayo, with your hand and pulled his foot out from under him?
I would love to give folks the benefit of the doubt in certain situations. But I don’t think this is one of those situations.
The NBA should be disgusted in itself…
Miami should protest the result and if they can the penalty…
This is the right call for no suspension. Should he have been ejected yesterday? Maybe but it was too late. So many dirty plays doesn’t get a player suspended and we don’t know the severity of Bam’s injury.