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LaMelo Ball’s Official Playing Status for Pistons-Hornets

Will LaMelo Ball face the Detroit Pistons on Friday?
Justin Grasso|
Nov 21, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) shoots during the second half against the Detroit Pistons at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images
Nov 21, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) shoots during the second half against the Detroit Pistons at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images | Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images

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Detroit PistonsCharlotte Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets had a loaded injury report on Friday night against the Detroit Pistons. Right at the top was the All-Star guard, LaMelo Ball.

Dealing with a wrist and an ankle sprain, Ball was deemed questionable for the matchup when the Hornets released their injury report on Thursday night.

As the day progressed, Ball showed signs of potentially being available for Friday’s action in Detroit. When the Hornets held a morning shootaround, Ball was reportedly active in the session.

Unfortunately for Charlotte, Ball will not get the nod to play against the Pistons. The matchup marks his third absence since the Hornets took on the Washington Wizards on December 26. At the time, Ball checked in for 38 minutes and produced 31 points, six rebounds, and six assists.

Throughout December, Ball missed a handful of matchups. Most of it was a result of the veteran guard’s ankle injury, which he suffered on November 27 against the Miami Heat.

Ball missed his first game of the season on November 29 against the New York Knicks. He went on to miss seven games in a row for Charlotte.

The veteran star returned to the court on December 16 to face the Philadelphia 76ers. He checked in for 26 minutes, producing 15 points and 11 assists in a 13-point loss.

The Hornets had Ball on the floor for two games before he got the second night of a back-to-back set off. After returning for a two-game stretch, Ball went on to miss two more games.

This year, Ball has appeared in 22 games. He’s averaging 30 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and one steal throughout the year.

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Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Justin Grasso was a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s 76ers On SI Network. Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writers Association. Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoMedia

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