Hornets' LaMelo Ball likely out for season with fractured ankle

CHARLOTTE,N.C. (AP) — LaMelo Ball’s frustrating, injury-plagued season couldbe over after the point guard broke his right ankle in Charlotte’s117-106 win over the Detroit Pistons on Monday night.

Ball hasalready missed 27 games this season after he sprained his leftankle on three separate occasions, beginning in the preseason. Heand the Hornets (20-43) were playing their best basketball of theseason before the point guard fell to the floor on a non-contactplay in the third quarter.

X-raysrevealed the fracture to Ball’s ankle.

“It sucks,”Hornets swingman Gordon Hayward said, shaking his head. “Injuriesare the worst part of the game.”

Ball hadentered the game with five straight double-doubles and appeared onhis way to another with 18 points, six rebounds and five assistsbefore leaving with 9:26 left in the period.

He was alsoshooting the ball extremely well from deep, having made 47.3% (27of 57) of his 3-point shots over the last five games. He was 6 of 7from beyond the arc against the Pistons.

Charlotte’sfive-game win streak was the team’s longest of the season.

“We werestarting to figure it out as a team,” Hayward said. “He and I werestarting to build (chemistry). I think me personally, I wasstarting to build a good relationship with him on the court and wewere finding easy buckets for each other. Some of that is whatwe’ve gone through the whole year, not being able to build that outon the court with different guys being injured. Him at thebeginning of the season, then me right after that, and now himagain. It’s been back and forth with different people through theyear, which is tough.”

Ball had justdribbled behind his back and appeared to be setting up to work offa screen from center Mark Williams beyond the 3-point arc when hefell to the ground. He grabbed the loose ball and passed toWilliams, who found a teammate for a score.

Ball wastaken to the locker room.

Hayward saidplayers figured he had “tweaked something,” not knowing the extentof the injury until after the game.

Hornets coachSteve Clifford didn’t say how long Ball would be out. But given theseverity of the injury and the fact the Hornets only have 19 gamesremaining and are not in contention for the playoffs, it seemsunlikely the team would rush him back.

“The onlything you can do is watch the film, learn from it and then focus onwhat we have to do tomorrow in practice to get ready for (the nextgame). Unfortunately, we’re experienced at playing without all ofthem, so it’s not like it’s going to be brand new,” Clifford said.“It’s tough, too, because he was starting to play so well, and theteam obviously was playing better and better. They’re not going towait for us.”

Hayward saidhe texted Ball after the game, but hadn’t spoken with him.

“I think thatis the most important thing when you are injured — stay positiveand have a good support system around you including your teammates,family and friends,” said Hayward, who broke an ankle on an awkwardlanding in 2017 while playing for Boston. “He’s young and he willbounce back but it is always tough in the moment.”