Hornets’ LaMelo Ball to miss extended time with ankle injury

Well, it’s not great news for the Charlotte Hornets and standout point guard LaMelo Ball.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, the right ankle injury that sidelined Ball over the weekend will cause him to miss “extended time.” On the bright side, Ball will not need surgery, Charania reported.

Ball sustained the injury in the second quarter of the Hornets’ game against the Orlando Magic on Sunday and was forced to exit. He injured the same ankle last year, resulting in the end of his season. The severity of this particular injury will only be determined after further testing.

Ball, 22, is off to a torrid start, averaging career-highs of 25.9 points and 8.6 assists in 14 appearances. He is shooting a career-best 44 percent from the field, including 39 percent on 3-pointers.

Ball, who is currently in a walking boot and crutches, has had a fabulous start to the season: 24.7 points, 8.2 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game. He’s scored 30 points or more in seven of the last 10 games. https://t.co/fJQsclDNcJ

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 28, 2023