Sources: NBA probing Ball trip of Adebayo in Heat-Hornets - ESPN

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The NBA is investigating LaMelo Ball's trip of Bam Adebayo, which resulted in the Miami Heat star's lower back injury during Tuesday's play-in game against the Charlotte Hornets, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.

Charlotte won the game 127-126 in overtime, with Ball scoring the winning basket on a layup with 4.7 seconds left. Adebayo did not return after suffering the injury, playing just 11 minutes.

The league has contacted both the Hornets and the Heat and will interview Ball, sources told Charania.

The Hornets next play Friday against the loser of Wednesday night's Philadelphia 76ers-Orlando Magic play-in game. It's possible the Ball play is upgraded to a flagrant foul 1 or a flagrant foul 2, but there is doubt that it would rise to a suspension, sources told Charania.

The play occurred early in the second quarter.

After Ball had a shot blocked inside, Adebayo grabbed the rebound and tried to stay in bounds. Ball fell near the Heat center and swiped at his foot, sending him falling to the floor hard with no whistle. Play ensued down the floor while Adebayo remained down. After Miami's Pelle Larsson scored on a layup and Ball scored on a dunk, the Heat called a timeout with 10:58 left in the quarter.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after the loss that Ball should have been ejected but that officials missed the play.

«I didn't see it [when it happened], but I don't think it's cute,» Spoelstra said after the Heat missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 season. «I don't think it's funny. I think it's a stupid play. It's a dangerous play. Obviously, our best player was out. I'm not making an excuse. The Hornets played great and they made those plays down the stretch. We had our