MIAMI — Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra and players spoke to reporters Thursday as the team concluded its season following a 127-126 overtime loss to the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA’s play-in tournament on Tuesday.

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It marks the first time the Miami Heat have missed the playoffs since the 2018-19 season, ending a tumultuous stretch in which they lost 10 of their final 15 games.

Heat center Bam Adebayo was asked about possible changes needed this offseason.

“That is not a question for me,” he said. “That is obviously a question for Spo (Spoelstra) and Pat Riley. Seeing that we didn’t make the playoffs, there will probably be changes.”

Adebayo also addressed whether his injury would have kept him out longer had Miami advanced.

“I don’t like needles, but I would have taken a couple more to keep playing, for sure.”

In Miami, the NBA’s decision that LaMelo Ball grabbing Adebayo ankle as he was falling was an ejection-worthy flagrant foul didn’t register much of a reaction. In Charlotte, the fact that the ruling didn’t include a suspension brought relief.

Adebayo previously said he wanted the league to review how plays like that can be handled going forward.

Per NBA rules, the Heat could not challenge the ruling on the play at the time because no foul was called. Play continued, leaving no opportunity for a replay review.

However, the NBA decide to fine Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball $35,000 for his trip of Adebayo and upgraded the action to a Flagrant, plus fining him $25,000 for cursing postgame, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Adebayo was diagnosed with a lower-back contusion as a result of the fall, and he questioned why mechanisms exist to take 3-point makes off the scoreboard after several more minutes of play, while incidents like Tuesday’s cannot be reviewed unless immediately whistled.

Ball is now set to play Friday for the Hornets in their play-in elimination game at Orlando — a reality that Charlotte coach Charles Lee hoped for, and one that Spoelstra did not seem to oppose.

“I didn’t think that he needed to be penalized more moving forward. I don’t think that would make sense,” Spoelstra said Thursday as the Heat held their season-ending meetings.

Meanwhile, Heat guard Pelle Larsson reflected on his season and growth on Thursday.

“Definitely stepped up in my development.” He said getting more minutes and opportunities were a big part of it, but added, “I absolutely have more to build on.”

Heat forward Norman Powell told reporters that he enjoyed his time in Miami and would like to continue it, but he still has to speak to his agent and see what conversations his agent has with the Heat front office moving forward.

Guard Nikola Jovic told reporters that he believes inconsistent minutes led his struggles in Miami’s new up-tempo offense.

“I thought this offense was going to be good for me too, but I think the part that didn’t help me was the fact my playing time was so inconsistent,” he said. “I think I started the first game of the year, and then I came off the bench and after a few games, it (his minutes) went down and down more and I couldn’t find a rhythm.”

Miami’s Tyler Herro and Andrew Wiggins declined to speak to reporters on Thursday.

Spoelstra added, “I truly feel there could have been four to six more wins on the table for us, but that did not happen. But you are what your record is.”

He also stated that Miami’s front office is highly motivated to be better.

The Heat finished the regular season 43-39, and now face an offseason full of questions as the franchise looks to return to playoff form.

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