MIAMI (AP) — Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball should have been ejected for an uncalled flagrant foul when he reached out and tugged on the ankle of Miami’s Bam Adebayo, causing a back injury that forced Adebayo out of a play-in tournament game, the NBA said Wednesday.
The league said Ball made “unnecessary and reckless contact” with Adebayo on Tuesday night. Ball was fined $60,000 for the foul and for using profanity in an interview, but he remains eligible to play in the Hornets' elimination game Friday against Orlando.
The flagrant foul from Tuesday’s game, if called in real time, would have resulted in Miami being awarded two free throws and possession of the ball. The Heat wound up losing 127-126 in overtime, ending their season.
The NBA said a flagrant foul, penalty two, was merited. If that had been called, Ball would have been ejected.
Adebayo was hurt early in the second quarter and did not return, leaving Miami without its best player. Ball made the decisive layup for the Hornets in overtime.
While he lauded the way Charlotte played, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said he felt Ball should have been ejected and wondered how officials Zach Zarba, Curtis Blair and Gediminas Petraitis all missed the incident.
“I don’t think that belongs in the game, tripping guys, shenanigans,” Spoelstra said. “Curtis was there. It’s his responsibility to see that. And if it’s not his responsibility, then Zach’s got to see it. Somebody’s got to see that. He should have been thrown out of the game for that. I don’t know him from anyone. There’s no place in the game for that.”
Per NBA rules, the Heat could not challenge the ruling on the play because no foul was called. Play continued, leaving no opportunity for a replay review.
“The play wasn’t whistled in real time,” Zarba told a pool reporter. “Play continued with a fast break. And because play wasn’t stopped immediately, and there was no whistle on the play, the window to review the play was closed.”
Ball was fined $35,000 for the foul on Adebayo. He was fined $25,000 for using profanity in an on-court postgame interview. The league did not publicly address a separate incident where Ball struck Charlotte’s mascot during the postgame celebration.
Tuesday's play was reminiscent of one during a game at Miami in January 2024, when Ball grabbed at Adebayo’s leg as the Heat center was running to the other end of the court. Adebayo stumbled but did not fall.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, left, drives against Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) lies on the court during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
NEW YORK (AP) — Los Angeles Angels slugger Jorge Soler began serving a four-game suspension Wednesday night against the New York Yankees after his penalty for getting into a fight with Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López was reduced.
Hours earlier, Soler's punishment was cut by three games in an agreement between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association.
“Obviously, Jorgie’s been swinging the bat really hot now, so it’s unfortunate that we have to miss him for four games,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said at Yankee Stadium before his team's 5-4 loss. “But, you know, it is what it is and we have to deal with it. And we definitely will be waiting for him to come back.”
Both players were initially suspended seven games and fined by MLB last week after they got into a brawl on the field and were ejected from a game between the Braves and Angels in Anaheim, California.
Each player appealed, and an agreement was quickly reached between MLB and the MLBPA that trimmed López’s ban to five games. That penalty took effect immediately, and López was able to make his next scheduled start Tuesday against Miami thanks to an off day in Atlanta's schedule.
Soler is batting .231 with five homers, 18 RBIs and an .849 OPS. He went deep Tuesday night, the last of three straight solo homers by the Angels in the first inning of a 7-1 victory at Yankee Stadium.
The 34-year-old Soler had started all 18 games for the Angels this season — 15 at designated hitter and three in right field. He began the day leading the American League in RBIs, and he's hitting .313 (10 for 32) with four homers, two doubles, 12 RBIs and a 1.175 OPS in his past 10 games.
Third baseman Yoán Moncada was the DH on Wednesday night, with Oswald Peraza at the hot corner. Right fielder Jo Adell moved into Soler's cleanup spot in the lineup, and the Angels were forced by rule to play a man short on the bench.
“I just try to tell ’em wherever they are in the lineup, just be themselves,” Suzuki said. “I think sometimes you can tend to overdo things if you’re in that spot or mentality, but I think Jo’s at a place now where he’s comfortable with what he’s doing. He knows what he has to do. He knows just being himself is plenty.”
Soler homered off López in the first inning April 7, then was hit by a 96 mph fastball from the right-hander his next time up. In the fifth, Soler charged the mound after López threw a high-and-inside wild pitch that tipped off catcher Jonah Heim’s mitt.
At first, López held up his hands as the two glared at each other before both started throwing punches.
“I asked him if everything was OK and the answer he gave me, I didn’t like it,” Soler said that night through an interpreter, according to MLB.com. “That’s why I went out there.”
The benches and bullpens emptied as players from both teams tried to separate the two. Atlanta manager Walt Weiss was among those who tackled Soler, the 2021 World Series MVP with the Braves.
López was still holding the baseball when he landed a punch on Soler’s batting helmet. The two were teammates in Atlanta during the second half of the 2024 season, and López said through an interpreter there was “never any intent” to plunk Soler.
Atlanta led 4-2 when the fight occurred and went on to a 7-2 victory.
Soler’s two-run shot in the first inning made him 14 for 23 with five homers and three doubles against López.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Los Angeles Angels' Jorge Soler (12) hits a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees , Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Los Angeles Angels' Jorge Soler (12) is tackled to the ground by Atlanta Braves players as a fight breaks out during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Los Angeles Angels' Jorge Soler (12) reacts after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees , Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Los Angeles Angels' Jorge Soler (12) and Atlanta Braves' Reynaldo López (40) fight during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
