BREAKING: LaMelo Ball's Final Injury Status For Hornets-Heat Game
On Saturday night, the Charlotte Hornets are in Florida to take on the Miami Heat, and they have some excellent news for the game.
According to Rod Boone of the Charlotte Observer, LaMelo Ball will make his season debut after missing the first 13 games due to an ankle injury.
Boone: "LaMelo Ball will be active tonight against Miami, league sources tell @theobserver. But Dennis Smith Jr. will be downgraded from questionable to out with a sprained left ankle."
During his sophomore season, Ball averaged 20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 7.6 assists per contest.
The former third-overall pick also made the All-Star Game at 20 years old.
The Hornets have struggled hugely without Ball in the lineup to begin the season.
They are 3-10 in their first 13 games, and after starting out 3-3, they are in the middle of a seven-game losing streak.
The two teams also faced off in Florida on Thursday night, and the Heat won in overtime by a score of 117-112.
The Hornets probably should have won the game, but they lost the fourth quarter by a score of 31-19, which allowed the Heat to force overtime.
As for the Heat, they enter the night with a 5-7 record in their first 12 games, which has been a surprise.
Jimmy Butler had 35 points, ten rebounds and eight assists in their win over the Hornets on Thursday.
They are 4-4 in eight games at home, while the Hornets are 2-5 in seven games on the road.
