.jpg "A general view is seen before the game between the Charlotte Hornets and the Miami Heat at Spectrum Center on April 14, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina.")
A general view is seen before the game between the Charlotte Hornets and the Miami Heat at Spectrum Center on April 14, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Jacob Kupferman
Getty Images
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
The Miami Heat needed to play most of Tuesday’s elimination play-in tournament game without starting center Bam Adebayo.
Adebayo exited Tuesday’s win-or-go-home play-in tournament game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center early in the second quarter with a lower back injury. He has been ruled out for the rest of the contest.
Adebayo took a hard fall on his backside while trying to save a ball from going out of bounds in the opening minute of the second quarter. Hornets guard LaMelo Ball appeared to cause Adebayo’s fall, with Ball swiping and making contact with Adebayo’s sneaker.
Adebayo stayed down on the court writhing in pain, forcing the Heat to call a timeout.
During the timeout, the entire Heat team went over to check on Adebayo. He eventually stood up and walked slowly back to the locker room., but has yet to return to the team’s bench.
Adebayo recorded six points, three rebounds and one assist in 12 minutes before exiting Tuesday’s game.
This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 8:44 PM.
Related Stories from Miami Herald
Miami Herald
Anthony Chiang covers the Miami Heat for the Miami Herald. He attended the University of Florida and was born and raised in Miami.