Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball came through in the clutch during overtime to extend his team’s season with a win over the Miami Heat, 127-126, in the NBA Play-In Tournament with a game-winning shot.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the only noteworthy moment of the game for Ball.

In the first half, Ball and Heat star Bam Adebayo were tangled up, with video replay showing Ball reached out and tripped Adebayo by grabbing his foot.

WATCH: Erik Spoelstra rips LaMelo Ball for tripping Heat star Bam Adebayo

Adebayo suffered a lower-back injury on the play and was unable to return to the game. After the game, Ball spoke to the media and apologized for the play, saying the trip was unintentional.

"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."

—LaMelo Ball on the play that led to Bam Adebayo leaving the game. pic.twitter.com/79VIG5kuMK

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 15, 2026

“I apologize on that one,” Ball told reporters. “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.”

After the play, Ball was widely criticized on social media for the “dirty play.” Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra also sounded off on the incident, saying, “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.”

— Watch NBA Play-In Tournament on Prime Video —

Ball was not penalized for the play, but it will be interesting to see whether the NBA will hand down punishment amid the fallout.

Adebayo finished the game with 6 points while recording three rebounds, one assist, and one steal. He played just 11 minutes in the first half.

Charlotte, meanwhile, keeps its season alive thanks to Ball’s heroics and will play in another do-or-die game on Friday, April 17, against the loser of Wednesday night’s game between the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic.

The winner will earn the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.

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Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra was fired up after his team was eliminated from the NBA Playoffs by the Charlotte Hornets in Tuesday night’s Play-In Tournament game.

The Heat lost in overtime, 127-126, after a game-winning shot by Hornets star LaMelo Ball. But that wasn’t the only big moment involving Ball in the game.

In the first half, Ball and Heat big man Bam Adebayo collided under the basket, which knocked Adebayo off balance. Ball then swiped at Adebayo’s foot and tripped him to the ground.

MORE: 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament TV schedule, full list of games & tip times

The incident resulted in Adebayo suffering a lower back injury, which kept him out for the remainder of the game.

Is this a dirty play by LaMelo? pic.twitter.com/tPebBPDLDC

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 15, 2026

Ball was not penalized on the play.

After the game, Spoelstra sounded off on the incident during his post-game press conference and ripped Ball for the play and the referees for not calling a foul and kicking the Hornets star out of the game.

— Watch NBA Play-In Tournament on Prime Video —

“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,” Spoelstra told reporters. “He should be penalized for that. I don’t think that belongs in the game, tripping guys.

“Somebody has got to see that. He should have been thrown out of the game for that.”

Erik Spoelstra on LaMelo Ball's dirty play on Bam:

"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. Somebody has got to see that. He… pic.twitter.com/7pbCWPnUv8

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) April 15, 2026

It will be interesting to see if the NBA reviews the incident and hands down any punishment to Ball.

Unfortunately, the injury proved to be costly for the Heat, and their season is now over.

Ball, meanwhile, finished the game with 30 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds, and the Hornets will advance to the final play-in game on Friday, April 17. Charlotte will now face the loser of Wednesday night’s game between the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic.

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