Bam Adebayo Suffers Injury After LaMelo Ball Trip in Play-In Game, Latest Updates on Heat Star
Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo left Tuesday’s Play-In Tournament game against the Charlotte Hornets during the second quarter after getting tangled up with LaMelo Ball, on a play where it appeared as though the point guard may have grabbed Adebayo’s leg.
The Heat later ruled out Adebayo with a lower back injury.
It was massive blow for the Heat, with their playoff hopes on the line. Miami needed to win two Play-In games to reach the postseason but lost to the Hornets on Tuesday, 127-126 in overtime, ending its season.
A number of NBA fans felt Ball’s trip of Adebayo was intentional and dirty:
It’s certainly possible the NBA will review the play, which could impact the Hornets for Friday’s second Play-In Tournament game against either the Philadelphia 76ers or Orlando Magic.
As for Adebayo, the 28-year-old averaged 20.1 points, 10 rebounds and 3.2 assists this season and was easily the team’s best player. His historic 83-point outburst against the Washington Wizards was one of the definitive moments of the 2025-26 season.
He was hoping to lead the Heat to the playoffs for a seventh straight season, though they’ve only won one postseason game in their last two trips. Still, missing out on the playoffs altogether has been a rarity in the Adebayo era.
It was out of his hands on Tuesday, however.
