Charlotte Hornets star guard LaMelo Ball missed Saturday's game against the Hawks with a sprained left ankle and a sore left wrist. Without their best player, the Hornets fared surprisingly well against Atlanta, as Charlotte picked up a 122-118 road win behind 34 points and five assists from Terry Rozier. Still, when the Hornets travel to Utah to play Jordan Clarkson and the Jazz on Monday night, every Hornets fan will surely want to know: Is LaMelo Ball playing tonight vs. the Jazz?
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LaMelo Ball injury status vs. Jazz
The Hornets initially listed Ball as questionable for Monday night's showdown, per a tweet from Underdog Fantasy's NBA account. However, the Hornets announced an hour before tip-off that LaMelo has been downgraded to out against the Jazz. Additionally, Cody Martin (left knee soreness) has also been ruled out, along with Kelly Oubre (left hand surgery).
Ball, 21, is in his third year in the NBA since the Hornets selected him third overall back in the 2020 draft. He's averaging 23.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.3 blocks across 22 appearances this season. Currently posting personal bests in points and assists per game, Ball is, by all accounts, having a career year in year three. However, his field-goal percentage is down considerably from seasons prior —Ball's 40.9% field-goal percentage is the worst of his career by a wide margin.
Especially without Ball in the lineup on Monday night, we can't count on the Hornets being a competitive Jazz team on the road. After all, Charlotte's away record in 2022-23 is a poor 8-18. So, with regard to the question Is LaMelo Ball playing tonight vs. the Jazz, the answer is no.
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