Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball was helped off the court to the dressing room after his left ankle was kicked by a teammate in Wednesday night’s 122-117 win over the Houston Rockets.
Ball went up for a shot early in the third quarter Wednesday at the Toyota Center when Rockets forward Jabari Smith got past him. After Ball landed on his feet in the alley, Hornets forward PJ Washington – also attempting to contest Smith’s shot – came down himself and awkwardly stepped on Ball’s ankle.
That sent both Ball and Washington to court. Washington reappeared, but Ball clearly stalled there for a second in pain before limping onto the bench.
Ball was then helped into the dressing room without putting much weight on his ankle. The Hornets ruled him out soon after with a so-called sprained left ankle, ending his night. He finished with 13 points and four assists.
Ball came on Wednesday night with a career-high average of 24 points, 8.4 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game this season, his third with the team. Details of his injury are not yet known.
The Hornets shot forward in the fourth quarter and clinched the five-point win Wednesday night behind a 26-point performance by Terry Rozier. The win meant a five-game loss for Charlotte and took the Hornets 12-34 for the season.
Jalen Green lost 41 points and had seven assists for the Rockets, who have now lost 12 straight. Alperen Sengun also added 24 points and 12 rebounds.
LaMelo Ball exited the Hornets’ third-quarter matchup with the Rockets Wednesday night. (AP/David J Phillip)