The Miami Heat are playing for survival against the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA Play-In Tournament, but they may have to continue without their biggest star.
Center Bam Adebayo took a fall in the first half that seemed to cause him to injure his tailbone, as he was moving gingerly after the play. Therefore, the Heat medical staff took Adebayo out of the game for further review.
The Heat already don’t have a ton of firepower, and losing Adebayo for any amount of time would to tough to overcome. Miami needs to beat Charlotte on Tuesday night to advance in the Play-In Tournament.
Here’s the latest on Adebayo’s status.
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Bam Adebayo injury update
In the second quarter of the Play-In Tournament vs. the Hornets, Adebayo took a hard fall that forced him to leave the game. Adebayo went for a rebound but landed on his tailbone and was clearly in some discomfort.
Bam Adebayo is hurt and landed hard on his tailbone pic.twitter.com/sLpKSAp61a
— Heat Clips 🎬 (@MiamiClip) April 15, 2026
On replay, it appeared that LaMelo Ball was already on the ground when he tripped Adebayo, causing the big man to leave his feet.
The play where Bam Adebayo got taken out. LaMelo Ball was complaining to the referees afterward. pic.twitter.com/xbKAhslFHB
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) April 15, 2026
Trainers attended to Adebayo, who was able to get up but walked off the court slowly and back to the locker room. Miami later declared him questionable to return.
The Heat say Bam Adebayo left tonight’s game in Charlotte with a lower back injury and his return is questionable.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 15, 2026
In the middle of the third quarter, Miami ruled Adebayo out for the game.
The Heat now say Bam Adebayo has been ruled out for the remainder of the game. https://t.co/UFI4wB4wnz
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 15, 2026
Without Adebayo, the Heat lost a heartbreaker in overtime by just a point. After the game, head coach Erik Spoelstra criticized Ball for seemingly tripping Adebayo, saying he should’ve been ejected from the game.
Erik Spoelstra on LaMelo Ball’s dirty play on Bam:
“I don’t think it’s cute. 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. Somebody has got to see that. He… pic.twitter.com/7pbCWPnUv8
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) April 15, 2026
Adebayo declined to speak with the media postgame, but he may have something to say in the team’s closing media session. He played just 11 minutes in the Heat’s final game of the year.
