Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra watched his star center, Bam Adebayo, leave in the second quarter against the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday. Adebayo fell hard after Hornets guard LaMelo Ball grabbed Adebayo’s ankle and tripped him. The big man couldn’t return after he was diagnosed with a lower back injury.
Spoelstra did not hold back in his press conference after Miami lost 127-126 in overtime:
“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’ve been thrown out of the game for that.”
The play happened early in the second quarter when LaMelo Ball drove against Simone Fontecchio. Bam Adebayo came over to help just as Ball fell to the floor. While Charlotte’s star point guard was on the ground, he tripped Adebayo.
Ball quickly stood up to complain to the referees that he was fouled while Adebayo was attended to by the Heat training staff. After a few minutes, the three-time All-Star stood up before gingerly walking to the bench.
Without Adebayo, Erik Spoelstra still nearly guided the Heat to a road win. Tyler Herro scored six straight points to give Miami a 126-125 lead before Ball scored a layup. Miles Bridges rejected Davion Mitchell’s shot at the rim to end Miami’s season.
Fans React to Erik Spoelstra Blasting LaMelo Ball for Hornets Point Guard’s Costly Move Against Bam Adebayo
The play between LaMelo Ball and Bam Adebayo went viral. Erik Spoelstra’s comments only added fuel to the controversy, prompting fans to react. One fan wrote:
“Isaiah Stewart would have been suspended for months.”
Another fan added:
“Agreed. Suspend him.”
One more fan continued:
“If Embiid didn’t get thrown out, LaMelo wasn’t getting thrown out. The NBA cares more about ratings than player safety.”
Another fan commented:
“He should be suspended for the next game but he won’t be.”
One fan tweeted:
“The fact that they didn’t even review that for a flagrant foul is crazy.”
The referees did not call a foul on Ball while Erik Spoelstra could only watch helplessly as Bam Adebayo left the game. Most fans joined Spoelstra in ripping Ball for what seemed like a game-changing play against the Heat.
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