LaMelo Ball Added Late To Hornets-Pistons Injury Report

Ball has yet to miss a game in the 2024-25 season

Nov 4, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images / Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

LaMelo Ball is "Questionable" for tonight's match-up with the Detroit Pistons due to Right Ankle soreness per Hornets PR. Ball has yet to miss a game of the 2024-25 season, however tonight could be his first.

Ball had surgery on his right ankle in March 2023 and was sidelined from January 26th onwards in the 2023-2024 season due to lingering soreness. The fact the same ankle is bothering Ball a full 20 months after his first surgery is a worry.

Even more worrisome is that Ball was a late addition to the injury report, implying that this isn’t part of a planned rest or load management strategy. Notably, the right ankle soreness appeared following a day off, rather than after a back-to-back game as one might expect.

LaMelo Ball was questionable earlier this year with a hip contusion, but did manage to play through the injury. So far Ball is leading the Hornets in minutes played at 32.6 per game despite struggling with foul trouble.

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