Hornets' LaMelo Ball: Sprains ankle, won't return Monday

Ball won't return to Monday's game against the Lakers due to a sprained left ankle. He recorded seven points (2-5 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 1-2 FT), one assist and one steal in nine minutes prior to leaving the contest.

After drilling a three-pointer with 8:47 remaining in the second quarter, Ball suffered the injury while backpedaling down the court and inadvertently stepping on the foot of the Lakers' Jarred Vanderbilt. Ball was able to get up but intentionally fouled the Lakers' Austin Reaves so that he could check out of the game, with the Hornets ruling him out soon thereafter. While the severity of the injury presumably won't be known until he undergoes further testing, Ball's long history of ankle issues since being drafted in 2020 makes it more likely than not that he misses time. Vasilije Micic will likely step in as the Hornets' starting point guard if Ball is unable to play in the Hornets' next game Wednesday versus the Nets.