Is LaMelo Ball playing tonight? Hornets vs. Heat NBA Cup injury report
Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets meet again on Thursday evening at NBA Cup group play, and both teams enter this matchup with key rotation questions, especially in Charlotte, where LaMelo Ball’s status remains uncertain. The star point guard is officially listed as questionable with a sprained right ankle, the latest in a string of lower-body issues that have affected his availability since last season.
It’s Charlotte already shortwith Brandon Miller (shoulder) and Josh Green (shoulder) ruled out and Grant Williams (knee) out after surgery. The Hornets enter the matchup 3-5, and with little roster stability, Ball’s presence or absence significantly alters the makeup of the offense.
In six games this season, Ball is averaging 23.3 points, 9.8 assists and 7.8 rebounds while shooting 43% from the field. His playmaking remains the foundation of Charlotte’s offense, and without him, the team tends to rely heavily on Colin Sexton and Tre Mann to create a half-court offense.
LaMelo Ball’s injury status makes headlines as Hornets face NBA Cup heat
Meanwhile, Miami is dealing with injury issues of its own. Tyler Hero remains sidelined with an ankle injury suffered earlier this week, handing Miami’s shot-making responsibilities to Norman Powell and Andrew Wiggins, with Kel’el Ware and Terry Rozier filling key usage voids.
This will be the second meeting between the two of them this season. Miami dominated the opener on Oct. 28, winning 144-117, fueled by scoring off the bench and superior perimeter defense. Charlotte struggled to maintain Miami’s pace and spacing in transition, and the absence of LaMel this time would make that task even more difficult.
For Charlotte, tonight represents an opportunity, a chance to steal an NBA Cup group win and regain momentum during a difficult early period. For Miami, it’s a chance to maintain control of the tournament standings.
Whether LaMelo Ball is available could ultimately define the tone of the night.
2025-11-07 17:02:00
