NBA fines Hornets’ LaMelo Ball $60,000 for play-in incidents
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The NBA has issued two fines totaling $60,000 to Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball for separate infractions that occurred during Tuesday’s play-in game against the Miami Heat in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The league announced Wednesday night that Ball was fined $35,000 for making “unnecessary and reckless contact” with Heat center Bam Adebayo. The incident, which happened early in the second quarter, resulted in Adebayo landing hard on his lower back after Ball swiped at his foot while both players were near the baseline. Adebayo left the game after 11 minutes and did not return. Miami was eliminated following a 127-126 overtime loss in which Ball hit the go-ahead layup with 4.7 seconds remaining.
Upon league review, the play was upgraded to a flagrant foul 2. No foul had been called during live action, and game officials later explained that the window for video review closed once play continued without a whistle.
Ball also received a separate $25,000 fine for using profane language during a postgame television interview.
The Hornets will face the Orlando Magic on Friday, with the winner claiming the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra criticized the play after the game, calling it “dangerous” and saying Ball should have been ejected. Ball apologized twice during his postgame remarks, stating he intended to check on Adebayo’s condition.
Footage of a January 14, 2024, regular-season meeting between the teams resurfaced after Tuesday’s game, showing a similar moment in which Ball appeared to reach for Adebayo’s leg while on the floor.
Source: ESPN
