In the first half of Saturday night’s game against the Clippers, LaMelo Ball suffered a right wrist injury that hampered him throughout the second half, leading to him being subbed out of the game. While the Hornets did not provide any update on Ball during the game, Ball was subbed out of the game in the fourth quarter after spending much of the second half favoring the wrist.
Ball suffered the injury in the second quarter while breaking his fall after drawing a foul on a drive to the basket. Ball favored the wrist slightly before halftime and emerged out of the locker room after the break with a small tape around his wrist.
In the third quarter, though, he began favoring the wrist much more noticeably both in his shot selection and his passing. While he continued to throw terrific passes left-handed and shot from distance right-handed, even making a 3-pointer, Ball favored his right hand at the rim by nearly exclusively attempting left-handed layups.
Ball eventually checked out of the game with 4:44 left in the third quarter and was immediately checked on by the trainers. Ball had his wrist wrapped in ice after checking out while sitting on the bench. He would return to the game for a brief stretch in the fourth quarter where he would draw a pair of fouls.
However, Ball still only dribbled at the free throw line with his left hand and split the free throws on both occasions. After the second trip to the line, Ball intentionally fouled the Clippers to check out of the game and did not return.
Following the game, Hornets head coach James Borrego said he did not have an update on Ball, but noted that he was pulled out of the game in the final period due to discomfort in his wrist. Borrego also noted he expects an update on Ball on Sunday.
The Hornets are off on Sunday before returning to the court on in San Antonio, the fourth game on their five-game road trip.