CHARLOTTE — Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said LaMelo Ball should have been ejected for tripping Bam Adebayo during a play-in tournament game in Charlotte on Tuesday night. The Heat lost 127-126 to the Charlotte Hornets, ending Miami's season.

Early in the second quarter, Ball fell to the floor after missing a shot on a drive to the basket and appeared to reach out and grab Adebayo's left leg, causing Adebayo to fall on his back. No foul was called on the play. Adebayo walked to the locker room under his own power and did not return to the game.

"He should have been thrown out of the game for that," Spoelstra said after the loss. Spoelstra also addressed the nature of the play. "I think it's a stupid play. It's a dangerous play and obviously our best player was out," he said.

Ball, who scored 30 points and made the go-ahead layup with 4.7 seconds left in overtime, addressed the incident after the game. "I apologize on that one. I got hit in the head and didn't really know where I was. But I'm going to check on him and see if he is OK and everything," Ball said. Ball was not immediately checked for a concussion and remained in the game.

NBA official Zach Zarba explained why the play was not reviewed. "The play wasn't whistled in real time. 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," Zarba said.

Zarba said the matter would be handled by the league going forward. "At this point, that goes to league operations, and they'll make a determination on that in the coming days," he said.

Miami had a chance to win at the end of regulation, but Tyler Herro missed a three-pointer from the top of the key. Adebayo did not speak to reporters after the game.