LaMelo Ball one of five Hornets ruled out vs. Kings due to NBA health and safety protocols
.jpg "Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (2) passes the ball over Sacramento Kings guard Davion Mitchell during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. The Kings won 140-110. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)")
The Charlotte Hornets have ruled out five players for Friday’s game against the Kings due to NBA health and safety protocols, including 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball.
The Kings (11-14) will put their three-game winning streak on the line when they open a three-game road trip against the Hornets (14-13) on Friday at Spectrum Center.
The Hornets announced Thursday that Ball, Terry Rozier, Mason Plumlee, Ish Smith and Jalen McDaniels are still out under the league’s health and safety protocols. Any player who tests positive for COVID-19 must sit out a minimum of 10 days or until they produce two negative tests at least 24 hours apart.
Ball, Rozier and Plumlee are part of Charlotte’s regular starting lineup. Ball, the No. 3 pick in the 2020 NBA draft, is averaging 20.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists in his second season. Rozier averages 17.7 points per game. Plumlee averages 6.8 points and 7.3 rebounds.
McDaniels has appeared in 22 games this season, averaging 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 15.0 minutes per game. Smith has appeared in 18 games, averaging 4.8 points and 2.4 assists in 13.6 minutes per game.
The Hornets have lost five of their last six games, but they’ve played pretty well in the absence of Ball, Rozier and Plumlee. They beat the Atlanta Hawks 130-127 and lost two close games to the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Hornets will feature Miles Bridges, Gordon Hayward, Kelly Oubre Jr. and P.J. Washington. Bridges had 32 points in Sunday’s victory over the Hawks. Oubre scored 35 points in a 127-124 overtime loss to the 76ers on Monday. Hayward had 31 in Wednesday’s 110-106 loss to the 76ers.
