Could Charlotte Hornets LaMelo Ball get suspended by the NBA?
According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the NBA will review Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball for the play that injured Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo in the 9-10 play-in game on Tuesday.
Ball pulled Adebayo's left foot on a rebound, sending Bam hard to the floor and injuring his lower back in the second quarter.
Adebayo, the Heat's best player, didn't return to the game.
The Hornets will face the loser of the Philadelphia 76ers-Orlando Magic 7-8 play-in game next. Hopefully, the NBA doesn't suspend Ball for that contest.
"I apologize on that one," Ball said after the Hornets beat the Heat. "I got hit in the head [on the play] and didn't really know where I was. But I'm going to check on him, see if he's OK and everything."
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters that Ball should have been ejected for the play. He was furious that the refs didn't look at Ball's play.
"I didn't see it [when it happened], but I don't think it's cute," Spoelstra said. "I don't think it's funny. I think it's a stupid play. It's a dangerous play. Obviously, our best player was out.
"I'm not making an excuse. The Hornets played great and they made those plays down the stretch. We had our opportunities to win. That's a shame. You should be penalized for that. I don't think that belongs in the game -- tripping guys, shenanigans."
Ball hit the game-winning layup with 4.7 seconds left in overtime after Tyler Herro hit three free throws to give the Heat a one-point lead. LaMelo finished with 30 points and 10 assists while shooting 12-of-31 from the field, 2-of-16 from beyond the arc and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.
"We drew up a good play, I feel like, and just orchestrated it," Ball said about hit game-winning shot. "It worked."
Ball is the fourth player with at least 30 points and 10 assists in a play-in game. The one-time All-Star now has to wait and see what the NBA says about his play on Adebayo.
The Hornets haven't made the playoffs since 2016. They will be the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs if they beat the 76ers or Magic.
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