LaMelo Ball's costly play-in game just got even more expensive. The NBA has slapped the Charlotte Hornets star with a $35,000 fine for what it deemed "unnecessary and reckless contact" with Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo during Tuesday's high-stakes elimination contest.

The incident, a hard foul that drew immediate scrutiny, wasn't Ball's only financial penalty from the night. The league also fined him an additional $25,000 for using profane language during a post-game television interview, a moment of clear frustration after the Hornets' season came to an end.

For a young superstar known for his flashy playmaking, this double fine serves as a stark reminder of the league's standards for on-court conduct and post-game professionalism, especially under the intense pressure of win-or-go-home basketball.