NBA Notes: Hawks, Trae Young, Heat, Hornets, LaMelo Ball

Hawks

Trae Young has a sprained MCL and is expected to miss four weeks, but coach Quin Snyder said the Hawks were actually relieved after the imaging, per ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk.

Given that there’s no major structural damage, Young should only be out a month instead of something far more scary.

So for now, Atlanta is adjusting how it plays. It doesn’t have a choice, as Young is one of the league’s best pick-and-roll engines. Snyder indicated that other guys are going to have to make plays now. Different actions. Different roles.

The Hawks are coming off a 127-112 drubbing of the Magic on Tuesday night.

Heat

Norman Powell came back Monday night. Pelle Larsson stayed in the starting lineup anyway. And the Heat went small — sitting Kel’el Ware for matchup reasons — and beat the Clippers by a point.

Coach Erik Spoelstra said it wasn’t a demotion, just a matchup pivot. Ware will start some nights. He’ll come off the bench on others.

Basically, Spoelstra said this roster gives Miami a different look depending on the opponent. And the Heat intend to use all of them.

Hornets

LaMelo Ball sat again on Tuesday after missing Sunday’s 23-point win over the Jazz with a right ankle issue. Ball is averaging 23 points, 7.8 rebounds and 9.8 assists in the early season and clearly drives the whole operation.

Without him Tuesday, Charlotte lost to the previously winless Pelicans, 116–112. There is no timetable for Ball’s return, though the injury is not believed to be serious.