The Charlotte Hornets just got hit with a huge dose of bad luck as both LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier have entered COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
According to the latest report from The Athletic's Shams Charania, the both Ball and Rozier are expected to be out of the Hornets lineup for the foreseeable future.
Charlotte Hornets guards LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier have both entered COVID-19 health and safety protocols and are expected to miss several games, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 4, 2021
That's a massive blow to a Hornets side that relies heavily on their backcourt tandem for offensive production.
The expectation is that they'll be without their guards for at least 10 days barring a couple of negative tests in a 24-hour timeframe.
Ball and Rozier are expected to be sidelined for at least 10 days, or unless they record two negative tests in a 24-hour period moving forward, sources said. Charlotte will be without its young star and fellow starting guard for the time being. https://t.co/6EGuscCDBI
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 4, 2021
With Charlotte on a three-game losing streak and the Eastern Conference standings as cutthroat as its been in years, every game counts.
UPDATE:
Just minutes after the news that both LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier were going to be sidelines due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, both Jalen McDaniels and Mason Plumlee are reportedly joining them on the shelf.
Hornets’ Jalen McDaniels and Mason Plumlee have also entered health and safety protocols, team says. https://t.co/6EGuscCDBI
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 4, 2021
The Hornets currently sit just a half game behind the Cleveland Cavaliers for the sixth seed and hold a precarious half game lead over three other East rivals for the seventh seed.
Charlotte is expected to fave two of them in the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers (twice) in the coming week, so this stretch without two of their stars will be a major test for the rest of the team.