Wednesday night's game between the Charlotte Hornets and the Cleveland Cavaliers was a tough run for LaMelo Ball.
Since it was the start of a back-to-back set, the Hornets opted to bring Ball off the bench. He checked in for 22 minutes. The young star ended up having a difficult night, which seems to be explained in Thursday's injury report.
Ball Could Miss Hornets-Magic on Thursday
According to the Hornets' injury report, Ball has been listed as questionable. The team labeled his injury designation as a thumb contusion. This comes after Ball went 1-15 from the field, missing all 10 of his three-point attempts.
He finished the game with just two points, five rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and one block.
The Hornets put up a good fight, despite Ball's concerns. However, they still came up short with a 94-87 loss. With that defeat, the Hornets dropped to 16-28 on the year.
This season, the Hornets have been making a clear effort to keep LaMelo Ball as healthy as possible. While the young star is used to having a full-time role in the starting lineup, he has picked up some scattered reserve roles over time lately. January 8 against the Indiana Pacers was the first go-round.
Since then, Ball has come off the bench in two out of six games. If he does get the nod to play for the Hornets on Thursday night, it's unclear which direction Charles Lee will take.
This season, Ball has made 34 total appearances. He is averaging a career-low 27.3 minutes on the court. The young veteran star has been shooting 40 percent from the field and 35 percent from three, averaging 19.4 points per game. He also posts 7.6 rebounds and 7.6 assists.
The Hornets will search for win No. 17 on Thursday. They'll tip off in Orlando, Florida, at 7 PM ET. If Ball doesn't get the chance to play, the Hornets could be eyeing Saturday, January 24, for his return.
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