What It Means:

It was a non-contact injury that could potentially sideline Ball for the remainder of the season. The Hornets currently have the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference and aren't preparing for a playoff push, so there isn't much incentive to rush Ball back. He also missed 24 games earlier this season due to a left ankle injury. Dennis Smith Jr. is the obvious candidate to replace Ball in the starting lineup, but the Hornets could move Terry Rozier to point guard and insert Kelly Oubre into the first five instead. Either way, Smith, Rozier, and Oubre all stand to benefit from Ball's injury.

LaMelo is leading the Hornets with a 29.7% usage rate this season and averaging 44.7 FanDuel points in 35.2 minutes per game. DSJ is averaging 26.9 FanDuel points and 27.9 minutes without LaMelo this season, compared to 18.8 FanDuel points and 23.3 minutes when they are both active. He leads the Hornets in FanDuel point per game differential (plus-8.1) when LaMelo is out.