{"id":118018,"date":"2026-04-15T05:30:51","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T05:30:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/15\/lamelo-ball-reacts-to-his-dirty-play-on-bam-adebayo\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T05:30:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T05:30:51","slug":"lamelo-ball-reacts-to-his-dirty-play-on-bam-adebayo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/15\/lamelo-ball-reacts-to-his-dirty-play-on-bam-adebayo\/","title":{"rendered":"LaMelo Ball Reacts to His Dirty Play on Bam Adebayo"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Hornets vs. Heat play-in game wasn\u2019t short of controversy, after LaMelo Ball caused a nasty injury for Bam Adebayo, who wasn\u2019t able to return to the game.<\/p>\n

Miami were without their best player for pretty much three whole quarters, after Bam went down early in the second.<\/p>\n

He was falling after trying to keep the ball inbound and LaMelo grabbed his foot, which seemed to cause him to fall hard and land on his tailbone \/ back.<\/p>\n

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Bam Adebayo has gone to the locker room after a nasty fall \ud83d\ude2c<\/p>\n

Was this a dirty play by LaMelo? \ud83e\udd14<\/p>\n

(via NBA) pic.twitter.com\/f5f9ZoKpb0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) April 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

There was no action taken by the referees over the play and the Heat later ruled him out of the game with a lower back injury.<\/p>\n

The Hornets went on to win the game in crazy fashion, with an insane play by none other than LaMelo himself.<\/p>\n

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LaMelo Ball FOR THE WIN OMG \ud83e\udd2f<\/p>\n

(via NBA) pic.twitter.com\/dYhv1HQcfw<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) April 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

LaMelo apologized for his actions in his postgame press conference.<\/p>\n

\u201cI apologize on that one,\u201d he said. \u201cI got hit on the head, didn\u2019t really know where I was. But I\u2019m going to check on him and see if he\u2019s going to be OK.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the game, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra expressed frustration with the lack of consequences for Ball\u2019s dirty play.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s cute. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s funny,\u201d Spoelstra said. \u201cI think it\u2019s a stupid play. It\u2019s a dangerous play. Obviously our best player was out. I\u2019m not making an excuse. The Hornets played great. They made those plays down the stretch. We had our opportunities down the stretch. That\u2019s a shame. He should\u2019ve been penalized for that. Tripping guys, shenanigans. [Referre] Curtis [Blair] was there, it was his responsibility to see that, and if it\u2019s not his responsibility, [crew chief] Zach [Zarba]\u2019s got to see that. Somebody has got to see that. He should\u2019ve been thrown out of the game for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tyler Herro\u2019s also shared his thoughts on Bam\u2019s injury.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was crazy. I\u2019ve played with Bam for a long time and I usually never really see him limp like that, he\u2019s usually a guy that stays in, that tells you how much pain he\u2019s in. He can barely walk to the back and I saw the video he fell really hard\u2026I mean we all know \u2014 it was not the right play.\u201d<\/p>\n

This marks the first time in six seasons Miami won\u2019t have made the playoffs.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Nike\u2019s Bronny James \u2018B9\u2019 Logo Faces Trademark Setback<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n