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Heat fans want LaMelo Ball suspended for the team’s next playoff game.
On Tuesday night during the Heat-Hornets play-in game, Ball committed a dirty play when he deliberately tripped Adebayo, sidelining the Heat star for the rest of the game with a head injury.
Another angle of Bam Adebayo’s hard fall after LaMelo Ball grabbed at the bottom of his leg.
Should this have been reviewed for a flagrant on Ball? 🤔pic.twitter.com/nva6Nn68p5 https://t.co/XiQhmcqUI0
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 15, 2026
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra blasted Ball and called for the league to punish him.
“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. He should have been thrown out of the game for that”
“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…I don’t think that belongs in the game, tripping guys.“
— Erik Spoelstra on LaMelo’s play on Bam.
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 15, 2026
Heat star Tyler Herro also spoke about the play.
“It was crazy — I’ve played with Bam for a long time and I usually never really see him limp like that — he’s usually a guy that stays in, that tells you how much pain he’s in. He can barely walk to the back and I saw the video he fell really hard…”
“I mean we all know — it was not the right play.”
Ball apologized to Adebayo after the game.
“I apologize on that one, I got hit in the head and didn’t really know where I was but I’m going to check on him and see if he’s okay.”
“I apologize on that one. I got hit in the head, didn’t really know where I was, but I’mma check on him and see if he’s okay and everything. I haven’t even seen it.”
— LaMelo Ball apologizes for his play on Bam
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 15, 2026