Hornets level guard LaMelo Ball has been identified with a left calf pressure, the crew announced Saturday in a press release. Ball’s damage, which he suffered throughout Wednesday’s recreation vs. Miami, was initially listed as left calf soreness earlier than he underwent extra analysis.
Based on the Hornets, their main scorer can be reevaluated two weeks after the damage, which occurred on Dec. 11.
That implies that Ball, who missed his first recreation of the season on Friday vs. New York, will stay sidelined for no less than Charlotte’s subsequent 5 video games — in opposition to the Hawks, Sixers, Knicks, Cavaliers and Pacers — and may very well be past that.
Ball has been one of many NBA’s most dynamic gamers this season, averaging a career-high 31.3 factors per recreation with 6.9 assists and 5.4 rebounds per night time. His capturing proportion is modest at 43.0%, he’s averaging 4.5 turnovers per recreation, and his protection has been subpar, however the Hornets will definitely miss the 23-year-old on the offensive finish of the ground.
The Hornets additionally introduced Saturday that guard Tre Mann, who has missed the previous 4 video games resulting from low again soreness, has been identified with disc irritation. Mann can be reevaluated in two weeks, on Dec. 14.
Mann, who’s in his fourth NBA season, acquired off to a stable begin this fall, with averages of 14.1 PPG, 3.0 APG and a couple of.9 RPG, together with a .400 3PT%, in his first 13 video games off the bench (24.5 MPG). He’ll be a restricted free agent on the finish of the season.
The banged-up Hornets will lean closely on third-string level guard Vasilije Micic with Ball and Mann unavailable — the Serbian performed 31 minutes in Friday’s loss to New York. Nick Smith Jr., KJ Simpson and Seth Curry are among the many different candidates for elevated roles within the backcourt.
There may be some excellent news on Charlotte’s damage entrance. Heart Nick Richards, who hasn’t performed since Nov. 1 resulting from a damaged rib, has been upgraded to questionable for Saturday’s recreation vs. Atlanta. It appears like he’s on observe to return both Saturday or Tuesday vs. Philadelphia.
