Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball is expected to warm up with the intention of making his regular-season debut vs. the Miami Heat on Saturday night, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Ball has missed the Hornets’ first 13 games this season with a left ankle sprain he suffered in a preseason game back on Oct. 10. He was upgraded to “questionable” this morning.
Ball won Rookie of the Year in his debut season and was named an All-Star in his sophomore campaign, when he averaged 20.1 points, 7.6 assists and 6.7 rebounds.
The Hornets have struggled in his absence, having dropped seven games in a row heading into Saturday’s tilt with the Heat.
His expected return comes after the Hornets lost swingman Caleb Martin for at least four weeks because of arthroscopic knee surgery. Gordon Hayward has also been out with a shoulder injury.