The Charlotte Hornets will miss their top playmaker, LaMelo Ball, on Saturday. According to the Hornets’ official injury report announcement, Ball will get the night off as the team manages his right ankle injury.
In addition to Ball, the Hornets will be without Josh Green, Liam McNeeley, Brandon Miller, and Grant Williams. KJ Simpson is considered probable to play on Saturday.
Ball has recently been out of the Hornets’ lineup. After the November 1 matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves, he missed the next five games for Charlotte. During that 122-105 loss to the Timberwolves, Ball struggled with his shot, making just 36 percent of his field goals and scoring 18 points. He also contributed eight assists and grabbed seven rebounds.
For the first time in two weeks, Ball was cleared to return for the Hornets on Friday night. Charlotte faced the Milwaukee Bucks in an NBA Cup game that went into overtime. Ball was available for 27 minutes, during which he made 33 percent of his shots from the field and scored 16 points. He recorded a double-double with 10 assists and added three rebounds.
Despite Ball’s efforts, the Hornets fell short in overtime, losing 147-134 to the Bucks. With that loss, Charlotte’s record dropped to 4-8 on the year.
In seven games this season, Ball has averaged 22.3 points, 9.9 assists, and 7.1 rebounds. He is shooting 33 percent from beyond the arc and 41 percent overall from the field.
The road doesn’t get any easier for the shorthanded Hornets on Saturday, as they are scheduled to face the 12-1 Oklahoma City Thunder. Charlotte went 2-3 in Ball’s absence recently.
Although the Hornets started the year decently, it’s clear the team is still in the rebuilding phase in the Eastern Conference. They will need more consistency and better health to get back on track. For now, their top playmaker is easing back into becoming a full-time contributor again.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nba/hornets-make-lamelo-ball-announcement-before-thunder-11054064