Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (thumb) has been upgraded to available for the second game of his team's back-to-back on Thursday night against the Orlando Magic. Charlotte played their star guard off the bench on Wednesday against the Cavaliers, and he collected just two points across 22 minutes while also sustaining a thumb contusion on his shooting hand. Despite thumb pain, the 24-year-old will likely rejoin the Hornets first unit during tonight's action. If he has a setback, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel will have to produce more on the offensive end, while Collin Sexton could see extended minutes.

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (thumb) is listed as questionable for the second game of his team's back-to-back, which is scheduled for Thursday night in Orlando. Charlotte played the star guard off the bench on Wednesday against the Cavaliers, and he went just 1-for-15 from the field in 22 minutes while also picking up this thumb contusion that has his status uncertain for Thursday. If Ball is out, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel would have to pick up the scoring slack, while Collin Sexton would also need to step into more usage. Sexton has been excellent lately, so if Ball is out, he should be a strong play in Orlando, where the Magic will also remain without Jalen Suggs (ankle), who was ruled out earlier on Thursday.

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (ankle) has been upgraded to available ahead of Thursday's game against the Indiana Pacers. Ball was listed as probable with right ankle soreness, but will officially play in both legs of the back-to-back set. On Wednesday, Ball struggled from the floor, going 7-for-20, but finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists in 25 minutes of action. The hope is that Ball will be a more efficient shooter during this favorable matchup against the Pacers. Fantasy managers can safely get Ball active in their lineups ahead of tip-off.

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (wrist) will play on Monday against Cleveland. The 24-year-old has missed 10 games this season for various ailments. Fortunately, that trend won't continue, with Ball in line to suit up for his third-straight contest. He has struggled offensively this season, averaging 19.2 points, down from the 2024 campaign, although he's at least amassed a career-high 8.6 assists per contest. Despite his struggles on the offensive end, Ball is a must-start in any format, and his scoring issues could improve somewhat now that Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow) won't suit up.

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (wrist) is listed as probable for Monday's matchup against Cleveland on the front end of a back-to-back. Ball has averaged 18.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 9.0 assists, and 26.1 minutes over his last five, shooting 42.7 percent from the field. The wrist issue adds mild risk, but his usage and playmaking remain intact. Brandon Miller and rookie shooter Kon Knueppel continue to benefit as secondary scorers, while Collin Sexton's (quadriceps) doubtful tag keeps Ball's floor stable in all formats.

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (ankle) is available for Thursday's meeting with the Hawks. On a night when Atlanta will get Trae Young (knee) back in the lineup, Ball will return from a three-game absence. However, the 24-year-old will be on a minutes restriction, so his fantasy ceiling will be considerably lower. Although he's still a must-start in season-long fantasy formats, DFS managers may want to look in another direction.

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (ankle) was listed as questionable for Thursday night's home game against the Hawks, but he was upgraded to probable on Thursday afternoon and should be ready to go against Trae Young (knee), who is also lined up to return, according to the latest reports. Ball has missed three games with his most recent left ankle bone bruise, and his return will likely send Sion James back to the bench. In his 16 games, Ball is averaging 19.4 points, 8.5 assists, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 28.9 minutes per contest. He'll likely be eased back into the rotation on Thursday, but he only missed three games, so he should be ready for a big enough role to be deployed as you normally would in his return to the court.

Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball (ankle) is listed as questionable for Thursday's matchup against the Atlanta Hawks. He is dealing with yet another ankle issue, sitting out three straight games. Sion James and KJ Simpson have received opportunities in the first unit during Ball's absence. James started the most recent game against the Cleveland Cavaliers but had a tough time. He shot only 3-for-9 from the field to finish with nine points, seven rebounds, three assists, and one block in 37 minutes.

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (ankle) will miss Sunday's game against Cleveland, extending his absence to three straight contests with a left ankle bone bruise. Ball remains a firm hold, but Charlotte's short-handed backcourt continues to reshape the rotation. With Collin Sexton (quadriceps) and Tre Mann (knee) also sidelined, KJ Simpson has averaged 11.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.3 steals over his last three while pushing 27.5 minutes, making him a deeper-league option. Rookie Sion James has also picked up consistent minutes, but the fantasy ceiling stays limited outside of scoring bursts.

Charlotte Hornets guardLaMelo Ball(ankle)is out for Friday's clash with the Chicago Bulls. Ball will miss his second consecutive game due to a left ankle bruise. His next chance to return will come on Sunday versus the Cavs. Fantasy managers should expect that he will likely carry a questionable tag ahead of Sunday's contest. Across 16 games this season, the 24-year-old is averaging 19.4 points, 8.5 assists, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 28.9 minutes per contest.

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (ankle) won't suit up on Sunday versus the Nuggets. He injured his left ankle in Friday's win over the Toronto Raptors. Luckily, Charlotte won't play again until Friday against the visiting Chicago Bulls, so he'll have some extra time to rest. With Collin Sexton (quadriceps) out as well, KJ Simpson, who logged 28 minutes on Friday, could enter the starting lineup. However, he only had eight points while committing seven turnovers, so he's not the safest streaming option by any means. Tidjane Salaun, coming off a 21-point effort, might also be in line for more minutes and scoring chances.

Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball (wrist) will play in Friday's contest against the Toronto Raptors. The team has upgraded his status from probable to available. Ball will make his sixth consecutive appearance and is fresh off his second-highest scoring game of the season. In Wednesday's 119-104 loss to the New York Knicks, Ball posted 34 points with 5-for-13 three-point shooting. Toronto has shown top-10 defensive numbers against point guards this season, making it challenging for Ball to replicate this performance on Friday night.

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (wrist) is probable for Friday's game in Toronto after posting 34 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists in 36 minutes Wednesday. He has averaged 17.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 8.0 assists over his last five, though efficiency sits at 36.5 percent from the field. He remains a must-start if active. Brandon Miller (shoulder) is questionable, which could funnel extra touches to Ball and Miles Bridges while keeping KJ Simpson and Sion James in secondary roles.

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (wrist) is available for Wednesday's game against the Knicks. The 2020 No. 3 overall pick has been listed on the injury report plenty of times throughout the 2025 campaign, mostly due to ankle issues. However, wrist soreness won't be enough to keep him off the floor, and he'll now suit up for his fifth-straight contest. Ball has struggled offensively this season, amassing 18.9 points per contest, although he's made up for it by averaging a career-high 8.9 assists. As always, he should be featured in all fantasy lineups, although DFS managers may want to tread carefully, considering the Knicks have been sound defensively all season.

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (wrist) is tagged as probable ahead of Wednesday's game against the New York Knicks. Ball has been battling with wrist soreness, but is expected to play through the pain. It didn't seem to affect his performance, as he scored 12 points with 14 assists during Monday's game. The absence of Brandon Miller (shoulder) should mean increased ball-handling responsibilities for Ball. It doesn't seem like fantasy managers should be worried about the wrist issue right now.

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (right ankle, injury management) won't play on Sunday versus the Atlanta Hawks. He had 18 points and seven assists in Saturday's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. However, it appears Ball isn't back to form after missing five-straight contests, considering he logged only 25 minutes and shot a rough 1-for-7 from behind the arc. Assuming the 24-year-old stays healthy, he'll likely get on track at some point moving ahead, although fantasy managers will need to remain patient. With Brandon Miller (left shoulder, injury management) out as well, and Ryan Kalkbrenner (ankle) listed as questionable, Miles Bridges and Kon Knueppel are both in line to see additional scoring opportunities. That should also apply to Collin Sexton, who will presumably enter the starting lineup to run the point, and ... [More]

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (ankle, injury management) won't play on Saturday night versus OKC. He returned from a five-game stint on the shelf because of right ankle impingement for Friday's NBA Cup meeting with the Milwaukee Bucks. Ball struggled, finishing with 16 points, going 5-for-15 from the field and 2-for-6 from behind the arc. While he at least added 10 assists, it was still a below-average fantasy showing. Assuming the 24-year-old didn't suffer a setback in the overtime loss, he'll likely be back in the lineup on Monday against the Toronto Raptors. As far as Saturday's contest is concerned, Collin Sexton and Tre Mann are the favorites to see more minutes, with one in line to return to the starting lineup.

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (ankle) will play on Friday versus the Milwaukee Bucks. The 24-year-old has missed plenty of time throughout his career due to ankle injuries, with this latest bout keeping him off the floor for the Hornets' last five contests. Ball remains a must-start in all fantasy formats, even with the risk of fewer minutes in his first game back. His presence will presumably mean less work for Tre Mann and Sion James.

Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball (ankle) looks set to return to the lineup Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks after the team listed him as probable on the injury report. Ball has dealt with right ankle impingement, sitting out five games. Before the injury, Ball had a strong start to the season, averaging 23.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 9.8 assists, and 1.7 steals. Rookie Sion James has started during Ball's absence, although it's possible Collin Sexton will land in the second unit on Friday night to provide bench scoring for the Hornets. Milwaukee ranks 10th in the league for points allowed to opposing point guards, making this a favorable matchup for Ball.

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (ankle) was assigned to the Hornets' G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm, to get some practice reps on Tuesday, but he will not be ready to return to the floor just yet. He was listed as out for Wednesday night's game against the Bucks and will miss his fifth straight game with an ankle impingement. Without Ball, Sion James has been in the starting lineup, and in his last four starts, he is averaging 9.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 29.5 minutes per game. While James will likely start, most of the offense will continue to fall on Miles Bridges, Collin Sexton, and Kon Knueppel.