All Hornets

LaMelo Ball to sit Hornets' final game before All-Star break

The Charlotte Hornets will be without their star guard tonight in Orlando.

Schuyler Callihan

Feb 3, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) during the first half against the Washington Wizards at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Feb 3, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) during the first half against the Washington Wizards at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images / Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
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For the final game prior to the All-Star break, the Charlotte Hornets will be without point guard LaMelo Ball against the Orlando Magic as he continues to nurse an ankle injury.

Ball exited the team's loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night in the first half with "right ankle soreness" and did not return.

The 23-year-old has been in and out of the lineup all season with ankle, calf, and wrist injuries. There has not been any indication from the Hornets as to whether this is potentially a multi-week recovery or a move that was made out of precaution. It's more than likely the latter, with the All-Star break being on deck and the team being nowhere near in position to make the play-in tournament.

In 33 games this season, Ball is averaging 27.3 points, 7.2 assists, and 5.1 rebounds on 41% shooting from the floor and 33% from three-point range.

With Ball set to be in street clothes this evening, rookie KJ Simpson would appear to be in line to make his third career start. The 2024 second-round draft pick has seen an uptick in his offensive efficiency of late averaging 11.5 points on 47% shooting over his last four games.

The Hornets and Magic will throw the ball up in the air at approximately 7:12 p.m. EST. You can stream the game live on FanDuel Sports Network Southeast.

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Schuyler Callihan
SCHUYLER CALLIHAN

schuylercallihan(at)gmail.com  Twitter:@Callihan_ Schuyler Callihan is the lead publisher of Mountaineers Now, All Panthers, and All Hornets on FanNation/Sports Illustrated. He took over publishing duties of All Panthers in 2020 and wanted to expand his professional coverage in the Queen City by running the operations at All Hornets. Schuyler attended Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia before finishing up his schooling at Alamance Community College in Graham, North Carolina. The Wheeling, West Virginia native made the move to North Carolina in 2015 and has been in Charlotte since 2021.

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