LaMelo Ball punches team mascot Hugo after Hornets knock out Heat

LaMelo Ball was so excited after delivering a knockout blow to the Miami Heat in a 127-126 play-in tournament win that he carried it over to his victory celebration, delivering two right-hand jabs to the oversized head of Hugo, the Charlotte Hornets’ mascot.

In a wild sequence, Ball avenged two critical mistakes just seconds earlier by scoring on a driving right-handed layup with 4.7 seconds left.

That set off a wild celebration on the court involving players, coaches and fans as the team earned its first home playoff win in a decade.

Ball was seen celebrating on midcourt and flexing after the shot, but it was local television station WBTV that caught video of Ball punching the mascot.

Hugo simply walked away.