LaMelo Ball's basketball IQ is indeed advanced for a player his age. His quick thinking was in full display on Friday, gifting the Charlotte Hornets a 108-105 win over the streaking Indiana Pacers and its superstar Domantas Sabonis.
The flashy 19-year-old rookie ensured his team will hang on to the victory with a gutsy play in the final possession at Spectrum Center.
With just less than one second remaining in regulation, the home team clung to a three-point lead as Ball was tasked to inbound the rock. Sabonis had his back turned against the Hornets' inbounder, prompting Melo to make a heads up play to seal the win.
Instead of passing the ball to a teammate, the 6-foot-7 playmaker tossed it on the Lithuanian's back as time expired.
LaMelo threw it off Sabonis' back to end the game 😂 @brhoops pic.twitter.com/RW4TOo0ndZ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 30, 2021




Unfortunately for Domantas Sabonis, this wasn't the first time LaMelo Ball embarrassed him in the game. With under three minutes left in the third period, the youngest of the Ball brood climbed high up the ladder to hammer a one-handed follow-up dunk right over Sabonis' head.
The Hornets youngster even mean-mugged him after the play and was lucky not to get a T for taunting.
LAMELO ON HIS MELON.
(via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/RfpnCNoOJ3
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 30, 2021
LaMelo, who is currently the frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year award, finished with another scintillating performance in their bounce-back win over Indiana. In 30 minutes of play, he put up 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the floor, along with seven dimes, six boards and two steals.