Scandal in the play-in: LaMelo Ball should have been ejected after injuring Bam Adebayo with a dangerous play

The Eastern Conference play-in delivered one of the most intense nights of the season and also a great controversy. The Charlotte Hornets being victorious at 127-126 in overtime against the Miami Heat was not only determined in the final seconds but also in a play that marked the game.

Miami's coach, Erik Spoelstra, was firm after the game in stating that LaMelo Ball should have been ejected in the second quarter. The play happened when the Charlotte point guard, after falling to the floor, grabbed the left foot of Bam Adebayo in a rebound scuffle, resulting in a serious fall by the center.

Adebayo sustained a lower back injury and did not return to play. Until that moment, he had a flawless start, scoring six points and grabbing three rebounds without missing a shot. His absence affected the Heat for the rest of the game. His teammate Tyler Herro stated, "I had never seen him limp like that," indicating the pain with which he left the court.

Spoelstra avoided using the incident as an excuse for the loss but was very clear in his assessment. He described the play as dangerous and unnecessary, emphasizing that it has no place in basketball and should have resulted in an ejection. He also criticized the refereeing team, led by Zach Zarba, for not detecting the infraction. The referees later explained that they couldn't review the play as no foul was called live, preventing a review according to the regulations.

Beyond the controversy, the game's outcome featured Ball as the protagonist. The point guard decided the game with a drive with 4.7 seconds left in overtime. After the game, he apologized twice, explaining that he had been hit on the head during the play and was not aware of the situation. He also stated that he would check on Adebayo's condition.

Tense Game Until the End

The game was a constant back-and-forth until the end. Miami was in the lead in the final seconds of regulation time, but a three-pointer by Coby White tied the game. Herro had a long-range shot to win it, but missed. In overtime, the Heat took the lead again with three free throws by Herro before Ball sealed the deal with a final basket.

The loss eliminates Miami from the playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 season. Despite the absence of their top player for much of the game, Spoelstra emphasized the competitiveness of his team and stressed that they had real chances to win. Meanwhile, the Hornets advance and will compete for the final spot in the East against the loser of the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Orlando Magic.