Charlotte Hornets coach Charles Lee discusses LaMelo Ball's ankle injury before Tuesday night's game against the New Orleans Pelicans. By Roderick Boone| Charlotte Observer
Leading into the Charlotte Hornets’ initial game of the Emirates NBA Cup, before the injury report was officially released for Friday night’s matchup with the Miami Heat, Miles Bridges explained what lay ahead.
After all, this was their second outing against the Heat in South Florida in 11 days.
“Defense first,” Bridges said. “A defensive mindset. They scored, what, 130 on us, 120? So, we’ve got to go out there and try to (be better).”
Actually, it was a 144-point outburst by Miami last time, and the task of returning the favor became that much more difficult with the latest news, highlighted by LaMelo Ball missing his third straight game nursing right ankle impingement. Ball was joined on the bench in street clothes by Collin Sexton, who sat out with a neck strain when the Hornets took on the Heat in East Group C action at Kasaya Center.
Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball (center, white shirt) was in street clothes for Friday night’s game at the Miami Heat. Rod Boone Charlotte Observer
The Hornets’ star guard had arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle and a separate procedure on his right wrist in April. The surgery addressed the impingement, but Ball is still apparently affected enough by it to be sidelined in game action for the better part of the last week.
“Yeah, he’s got that ankle impingement and it’s been good to see he’s been able to get a little bit of work on the court,” coach Charles Lee said. “And I think every day he feels a little bit better. He’s joined some team activities, which is great. So, the goal is to have him available for as many games as possible this year.
“And so I think that we’re just trying to take a day-by-day, day-to-day approach and a process. He’s got a plan in place, and he’s getting better every day.”
Listed as questionable Thursday after popping up on the injury report with a neck strain, Sexton was downgraded to doubtful after the morning shootaround at the arena. Roughly 90 minutes before tipoff against Miami, his status got shifted to out, leaving the Hornets really shorthanded in the backcourt.
Sexton and Ball have logged a combined 12 starts, so they were missed against the Heat.
“Yeah, Collin hit the ground in that New Orleans game and I think he actually got a tooth chipped and hit his head kind of hard,” Lee said. “So, ended up with a little bit of a neck strain or neck soreness. And so he’s working through that.
“Went through a shootaround today and I think (he is) just not where he needs to be in order to be able to compete at the level he wants to compete at. We all know how hard he plays and how relentless he is in every facet of the game. And, so, unfortunate. But I do think that he’s making progress, and hopefully we’ll see him soon.”