The NBA on Wednesday levied a total of $60,000 in fines against Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball for two separate incidents that occurred during Tuesday’s play-in win over the Miami Heat.
League officials ruled Ball committed a flagrant foul 2 for “unnecessary and reckless” contact after he grabbed Heat center Bam Adebayo’s leg and pulled him to the floor in the first half. The action resulted in a $35,000 penalty.
Ball received an additional $25,000 fine for using profane language in a live postgame television interview.
Because the punishment did not include a suspension, the 22-year-old guard will be available Friday night in Orlando, where Charlotte faces the Magic for the Eastern Conference’s No. 8 playoff seed.
Details of the incident
The play in question began when Miami forward Simone Fontecchio blocked Ball’s shot. After falling to the court, Ball grabbed Adebayo’s right foot as the Heat center secured the rebound and passed to Fontecchio. No foul was called at the time; a flagrant 2 would have triggered an immediate ejection.
Ball later scored the game-winning layup in overtime, ending Miami’s season.
Adebayo exited in the second half with a lower-back injury and did not return, finishing with six points and three rebounds in 11:26 of action.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra labeled the play “dangerous” during his postgame remarks and said Ball should have been removed from the game.
Ball’s response
Speaking afterward, Ball expressed remorse and said he planned to check on Adebayo’s condition. “I apologize on that one,” he told reporters, adding that he was disoriented after being hit in the head moments earlier.
Source: Hoops Rumors
