The NBA is reportedly considering whether it should punish Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball for tripping Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo during Tuesday night’s play-in game.
Ball grabbed Adebayo’s left ankle after a blocked shot during the second quarter of Charlotte’s 127-126 overtime win over Miami. The 6-foot-9, 260-pound center then fell on his back and exited. The NBA is now set to review the apparent trip and will make a ruling before the Hornets’ second play-in game against the Philadelphia 76ers or Orlando Magic on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime), per Chris Haynes of Prime Sports and NBA TV.
Will LaMelo Ball be suspended for Friday’s game if punished?
No foul was called during the game, so the play was unreviewable. The league, however, could suspend Ball if it feels the sequence merits one.
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra’s reaction may factor into the decision. He said the guard should’ve been ejected during his postgame news conference.