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LaMelo Ball hurt Bam Adebayo by tripping him in NBA play-in, and Erik Spoelstra’s response says it all
TL;DR
LaMelo Ball tripped Bam Adebayo during an NBA play-in game, leading to Adebayo suffering a lower back injury and leaving the game. The incident sparked debate over whether the trip was intentional, with no foul called by the referee.
The Heat and Hornets gave us an instant classic to kick off the NBA Playoffs with their overtime thriller, but the conversation following the game was understandably focused on an ugly moment which happened at the start of the second quarter.
LaMelo Ball was driving to the basket when he fell to the ground on some light contact. Bam Adebayo recovered the ball, tried to keep it inbounds on one leg, when Ball tripped the Heat star, causing him to fall hard and be forced out of the game with a lower back injury.
The play where Bam Adebayo got taken out. LaMelo Ball was complaining to the referees afterward. pic.twitter.com/xbKAhslFHB
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) April 15, 2026
The incident has been hotly debated. The angle above is damning, and it appears clear that Ball tripped Adebayo on purpose. Another angle from behind the play is less conclusive, looking more like LaMelo was flailing while complaining for a foul, and happened to pull Adebayo’s ankle as a result. Further muddying the water was a lack of a foul on the play, with a referee standing right**at the baseline, but not making a call.
Adebayo was listed as questionable to return with a lower back injury and was later downgraded to being out — playing only 11 minutes.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was understandably heated after the game and didn’t hold back. While he credited the Hornets for making plays down the stretch, he acknowledged that not having Adebayo hurt his team in the elimination game.
Erik Spoelstra on LaMelo Ball's dirty play on Bam:
"I don't think it's cute. I don't think it's funny. I think it's a stupid play. It's a dangerous play. He should be penalized for that. I don't think that belongs in the game, tripping guys. Somebody has got to see that. He… pic.twitter.com/7pbCWPnUv8
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) April 15, 2026
Ball was asked about the incident following the game, and claims he didn’t know what happened.
“I apologize on that one. I got hit in the head, didn’t really know where I was — but I’m going to check on hin, make sure he’s okay and everything.”
LaMelo apologized to Bam Adebayo. pic.twitter.com/2ZFGymBUkf
— Scott Fowler (@scott_fowler) April 15, 2026
The big question now is whether or not the NBA will take any action against LaMelo Ball. The Hornets are set to play the loser of Magic/76ers on Friday to determine the No. 8 seed in the playoffs. If the league decided a suspension was warranted for the trip it would essentially ensure Charlotte would lose that game, with Ball being the most important player on the Hornets. However, without a foul being called on the play it would be highly unusual for the NBA to suspend a player, meaning that LaMelo could get away with a fine.
Q&A
What injury did Bam Adebayo sustain after being tripped by LaMelo Ball?
Bam Adebayo sustained a lower back injury after being tripped by LaMelo Ball.
Was LaMelo Ball's trip on Bam Adebayo considered intentional?
The incident has been debated, with some viewing it as intentional while others see it as an accidental flail during Ball's complaint to the referees.
Why was there no foul called during the incident between LaMelo Ball and Bam Adebayo?
Despite a referee being positioned right at the baseline, no foul was called on the play, leading to further controversy.