On Sunday, the Charlotte Hornets had the enormous task of snapping an eight-game losing streak. Odds were stacked against them, especially with LaMelo Ball headlining the Hornets' lengthy injury report.
Another hurdle was that the team faced off versus the Indiana Pacers, last season's Eastern Conference Finals runner-up. The Pacers may be struggling in this campaign but remain a dangerous opponent because of the talent on the roster.
Leading Indiana is Tyrese Haliburton, who is looking to clinch a third All-Star berth in February. He also earned an All-NBA Third-Team selection last season, so it's understandable why some pundits ranked him highly months ago.
However, the former Sacramento Kings guard has not performed up to the standard he set for himself in his first 24 appearances of the 2024-25 regular season. Haliburton had been averaging 17.8 points and 8.4 assists per contest, but those numbers have gone down a bit after Charlotte held him to nine points and eight assists on Monday.
With last campaign's assists leader having another usual off night, the Pacers relied more on T.J. McConnell, who recorded a career-high 30 points, and Bennedict Mathurin with the game on the line. Unfortunately for the home team, the Hornets were able to hang on to the 113-109 win.
Brandon Miller scored 26 while showcasing his all-around game once more with six rebounds and five assists. Vasilije Micic also played well and may have boosted his trade value with 18 points and nine assists.
Haliburton had the opportunity to solidify his place among the league's elite with a standout performance against a depleted Hornets squad. Instead, he put up a dud.
So, if some folks still value him more highly than Ball, they should think again.
Despite his injuries, the Hornets star has shown to be the more reliable player on both ends of the floor. He has been one of the league's most prolific bucket-getters, particularly when it matters the most. In addition, Ball has done more with less help, taking it upon himself to carry more scoring load than he probably likes because of ailing or underachieving teammates.
The only advantage Haliburton has over Melo at this point is his availability. It actually seemed like the 2021 Rookie of the Year finally got a clean bill of health in the first month of this season before sustaining a left calf strain. However, if he misses more time, Hornets fans might have no choice but to watch Ball fall in most player rankings.