The controversial play between Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo and Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball marred the Hornets’ 127-126 overtime victory in the play-in tournament on Tuesday. Early in the second quarter, Ball grabbed Adebayo’s ankle, causing the big man to fall and injure his lower back.
The Heat gave the Hornets a seesaw battle despite Adebayo playing just 11 minutes. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra slammed the referees in the postgame interview, insisting that Ball should have been “penalized” and “thrown out.”
In the pool report after the game, crew chief Zach Zarba said that no review happened because the “play wasn’t whistled in real time.” Zarba added that “the window to review the play was closed.”
When asked by the Charlotte Observer’s Rod Boone if a suspension upon review could happen, Zarba responded:
“At this point, that goes to league operations, and they’ll make a determination on that in the coming days. So, they will make that determination and go from there.”
The referees did not call a foul on LaMelo Ball, nor did they review if a flagrant foul had been committed. While the point guard scored the game-winning basket, the Heat could only rue what could have happened after Bam Adebayo exited the game early.
Charlotte will play the winner of the game between the Orlando Magic and the Philadelphia 76ers. It remains to be seen if Ball will travel with his team as the Hornets try to clinch a playoff spot for the first time in a decade.
Fans React to Referee Zach Zarba’s Explanation on Non-Call Against LaMelo Ball
With NBA fans waiting for an explanation on the non-call and no-review sequence against LaMelo Ball, the pool report became viral. One fan wrote:
“This crew should get 0 playoff games going forward.”
Another fan added:
“NBA officiating needs more accountability, simple as that.”
One more fan continued:
“That is such BS.”
Another fan commented:
“Refs only called 9 fouls on the Heat. They tried to pay them back for this.”
One fan tweeted:
“Zach Zarba should be suspended until he proves to the league he can call a game correctly.”
A single missed call could change the complexion of an entire game, particularly in a back-and-forth contest. LaMelo Ball stayed and played the hero’s role in Charlotte’s win. Meanwhile, Bam Adebayo’s absence proved costly, forcing even non-Heat fans to criticize Zach Zarba and his crew.
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