NBA punishes LaMelo Ball for play that injured Bam Adebayo

The NBA fined Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball $35,000 and assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 on Wednesday, April 15, for the play that injured Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo in the teams' April 14 Play-In Tournament game . Ball seemingly tripped Adebayo — the league called it "unnecessary and reckless contact" — during the second quarter of Tuesday night's game, causing Adebayo to fall and creating what the league called “a significant injury risk. ” Ball will not face a suspension, however.

"I apologize on that one," Ball told reporters after the game. "I got hit in the head and didn’t really know where I was, but I’m going to check in on him to see if he’s OK and everything. " More: Bam Adebayo injury after LaMelo Ball tie-up has Erik Spoelstra fuming Adebayo suffered a lower back injury as a result of the fall and did not return to the game, which the Hornets won 127-126 in overtime.

The foul took place with 11:13 left in the second quarter of the game. Ball was fined an additional $25,000 for his use of “profane language” during a postgame television interview. When do the Charlotte Hornets play next?

LaMelo Ball and the Hornets will play at the No. 8 seed Orlando Magic at 7:30 p. m.