Is LaMelo Ball Playing Today? (Injury Update, Betting Impact for Hornets vs. Pelicans)

Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball will not only miss Sunday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans, but he has been ruled out for the season with ankle and wrist issues.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Ball will undergo minor procedures on both injuries to make sure he is ready for the start of next season.

Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball will miss the rest of the season as he undergoes two minor procedures to address ankle and wrist issues, sources tell ESPN. Ball showed toughness, playing through pain in recent weeks, before he and team consulted doctors on best course forward. pic.twitter.com/PrpWrjaXuW
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 28, 2025

With Ball done for the season, the Hornets are set as road underdogs on Sunday against the New Orleans Pelicans. These are two of the worst teams in the NBA, so oddsmakers at DraftKings have only set the Hornets as three-point dogs.

Charlotte has long been focused on improving its odds for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, so shutting Ball down to make sure he is healthy for next season is a logical move. It also makes the Hornets an extremely hard team to consider betting on going forward.

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