The Miami Heat took an early blow in Tuesday’s play-in loss to the Charlotte Hornets when Bam Adebayo left the game with a back injury early in the second quarter.
Adebayo grabbed a rebound after a LaMelo Ball layup was blocked. As Adebayo landed near the baseline, Ball, on the ground, grabbed the back of Adebayo’s left ankle while Adebayo’s right leg was in the air.
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Adebayo fell hard to the court and was in immediate pain.
Adebayo needed help up from the court and eventually walked to the locker room. The Heat listed him as questionable to return with a lower back injury before ruling him out late in the third quarter. The Heat went on to lose 127-126 in overtime with Ball scoring the winning basket with 4.7 seconds left.
No foul on LaMelo, no review of play
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was heated on the Miami bench after Adebayo’s fall. Officials didn’t call a foul on Ball, and Spoelstra’s pleas to review the play for a potential flagrant foul went unheeded.
Referee Zach Zarba told the Amazon Prime broadcast the play wasn’t eligible to be reviewed because it wasn’t immediately stopped and there was a change of possession.
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Spoelstra was still upset after the game and said Ball should have been ejected.
“I don’t think it’s cute,” Spoelstra said. “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.”
Spoelstra thought the officiating crew should have seen the foul and not put on the onus on the game being stopped for a review.
Official “Curtis [Blair] was there,” Spoelstra said. “It’s his responsibility to see that. And if it’s not his responsibility, then Zach [Zarba]’s got to see it. Somebody’s got to see that. He should have been thrown out of the game for that. There’s no place in the game for that. But that did not deter us.”
The Hornets led 30-26 at the time of Adebayo’s injury early in the second quarter. The Heat maintained their composure and went into halftime with a 54-52 lead.
Adebayo remained out of the game for the start of the third quarter, but the Heat had not yet ruled him out. Jaime Jaquez Jr. got the second-half start in his place, and Miami eventually ruled him out in the final minutes of the third.
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A three-time All-Star and a force on both sides of the court, Adebayo was the best big in the game and gave Miami an edge inside when he was on the court. They were at a significant disadvantage without him.
Adebayo posted six points and three rebounds in 11 minutes before leaving the game.