Hornets star LaMelo Ball (calf) out at least two weeks

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball will be sidelined at least two weeks with a left calf strain, the team announced on Saturday.

Ball sustained his injury late in the fourth quarter of Charlotte’s 98-94 loss to the Miami Heat on Wednesday.

He sat out the Hornets’ 99-98 setback to the New York Knicks on Friday and has been ruled out for Saturday’s game against the visiting Atlanta Hawks.

The Hornets have dropped four in a row and six of their last seven games.

Ball, 23, is averaging an NBA second-best 31.1 points per game to go along with 6.9 assists and 5.4 rebounds this season.

The NBA’s Rookie of the Year in 2020-21 and an All-Star the following season, Ball has contributed 21.0 points, 7.4 assists and 6.2 rebounds in 202 career games (182 starts).

Ball was selected by the Hornets with the third overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft.

–Field Level Media