Ball is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Hawks.
Ball made his first start as a Cavalier on Friday and performed well, but he'll shift back to the bench with Donovan Mitchell (hamstring) returning from a one-game absence. The UCLA product should still play plenty off the bench, having logged at least 22 minutes in all five of his appearances this season.
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Cavaliers' Lonzo Ball: Five dimes in first start of 2025
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Ball tallied eight points (3-7 FG, 2-4 3Pt), five assists, five rebounds and one steal over 26 minutes during Cleveland's 112-101 loss to Toronto on Friday.
Ball made his first start of the regular season Friday due to the absences of Donovan Mitchell (hamstring), Darius Garland (toe) and Sam Merrill (hip). Ball scored all eight of his points in the third quarter as he took a back seat offensively to Evan Mobley (29 points), De'Andre Hunter (26) and Jaylon Tyson (18). While Ball isn't known for his scoring, he has registered at least five assists in each of his five outings this season. He would likely return to the bench if Mitchell and Garland were to return Sunday against the Hawks.
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Cavaliers' Lonzo Ball: Starting Friday
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Ball will start in Friday's game against the Raptors, Serena Winters of FanDuel Sports Network Ohio reports.
With Donovan Mitchell (hamstring), Darius Garland (toe) and Sam Merrill (hip) all sidelined, Ball will get the starting nod for the first time this season. The Cavaliers have been cautious with the 28-year-old point guard's playing time due to his extensive injury history, and he'll remain on a minutes restriction Friday, according to Ethan Sands of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Over four regular-season games, Ball has averaged 4.8 points, 6.0 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game.
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Cavaliers' Lonzo Ball: Off report for Wednesday
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Ball (injury management) is off the Cavaliers' injury report for Wednesday's game against the Celtics.
Ball sat out Monday's win over Detroit -- the second game of a back-to-back set -- but is set to return to action against Boston. Through three regular-season appearances, the 28-year-old guard is averaging 5.3 points, 6.3 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 23.0 minutes per game.
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Cavaliers' Lonzo Ball: Will rest Monday
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Ball (injury management) will not play Monday against the Pistons.
Monday's game is the second leg of a back-to-back set, and Ball has not been cleared to play in both games of these. That's likely to remain the case indefinitely. Ball looked sharp Sunday, as he produced 11 points (4-7 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 1-3 FT), six rebounds, five assists and one steal over 23 minutes during the 118-113 win over the Bucks.
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Cavaliers' Lonzo Ball: Looks sharp off bench
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Ball chipped in 11 points (4-7 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 1-3 FT), six rebounds, five assists and one steal over 23 minutes during Sunday's 118-113 win over the Bucks.
For the third game in a row, Ball saw a workload of 23 minutes, and that's a few minutes more than what coach Kenny Atkinson mentioned prior to Opening Night that he would like the guard to play. Sunday's game featured Ball's best performance by far to date, but he's shooting 27.8 percent from the field through three games, which suggests he's due for some positive regression with his jumper.
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Cavaliers' Lonzo Ball: Hands out six assists in loss
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Ball scored three points (1-7 FG, 1-7 3Pt) and added four rebounds and six assists over 23 minutes in Wednesday's 119-111 loss to the Knicks.
Ball came off the bench and led the team in assists, but his four turnovers were a little concerning. Despite Darius Garland (toe) out to start the regular season, it appears the Cavs rolled with Donovan Mitchell and Sam Merrill as the team's primary backcourt, with Ball serving as the main facilitator among the second unit.
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Cavaliers' Lonzo Ball: Dishes out nine assists in win
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Ball (rest) posted nine points (5-10 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 3-4 FT), nine assists, four rebounds and three blocks across 20 minutes in Tuesday's 118-100 preseason win over Detroit.
Ball returned to action after sitting out Sunday's loss to the Celtics due to rest purposes. The 27-year-old guard led all players in assists and tied the game-high mark in blocks Tuesday. Ball is expected to be limited to 20 minutes per contest to begin the regular season and won't appear in both games of back-to-back sets.
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Cavaliers' Lonzo Ball: Does not play Sunday
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Ball (rest) did not suit up for Sunday's 138-107 preseason loss to the Celtics.
Kenny Atkinson decided to give some of his veterans Sunday off for rest purposes. Ball's final chance to suit up during the preseason will come Tuesday against the Pistons.
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Cavaliers' Lonzo Ball: Quiet in 12 minutes
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Ball finished scoreless (0-4 FG, 0-3 3Pt) with one assist in 12 minutes in Tuesday's 118-117 preseason loss to the Bulls.
Ball came off the bench Tuesday with Donovan Mitchell running the point. Ball has said that he's going to be limited to around 20 minutes per night to open the season and that he won't play in both games of back-to-back sets, so his fantasy upside will be held in check even in the absence of Darius Garland (toe).
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Cavaliers' Lonzo Ball: Coming off bench Tuesday
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Ball will come off the bench in Tuesday's preseason game against the Bulls, Spencer Davies of SI.com reports.
Despite Darius Garland (toe) and Sam Merrill (undisclosed) being sidelined, Ball will join the second unit in Cleveland's preseason opener against his former team. The 27-year-old point guard is expected to be limited to 20 minutes per contest to begin the regular season and won't appear in both games of back-to-back sets.
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Cavaliers' Lonzo Ball: Expects to see around 20 minutes
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Ball said Monday that he's expecting to see about 20 minutes per night to open the season, according to Cavaliers reporter Danny Cunningham.
Additionally, Ball said that playing in both games of back-to-back sets will be "off the table" to begin the season. This makes a lot of sense given Ball's injury history. Ball is expected to start on Opening Night in the absence of Darius Garland (toe), but expectations as far as fantasy impact goes should be tempered.
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Cavaliers' Lonzo Ball: Cleared for training camp
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Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said Tuesday that Ball (wrist) "looked great" at a workout Monday, Danny Cunningham reports.
Ball missed Chicago's final 22 regular-season games due to a sprained right wrist, but he was reportedly good to go for the majority of the offseason. Atkinson raved about Cleveland's decision to trade for Ball this summer, but he said the team will need to have a plan in place to make sure he's healthy for the playoffs. As things currently stand, Ball could be the starting point guard for Opening Night, with Darius Garland (toe) sidelined for the start of the season.
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Cavaliers' Lonzo Ball: Traded to Cleveland
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The Bulls traded Ball (wrist) to the Cavaliers in exchange for Isaac Okoro on Saturday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
Ball will join the Cavaliers and presumably provide a spark off the bench next season. The 27-year-old guard was traded to the Bulls in August 2021 but missed significant time while recovering from three surgeries on his left knee. Ball returned to game action this past year after being sidelined during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns. However, he appeared in just 35 regular-season outings during 2024-25, averaging 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 steals across 22.2 minutes per game. He missed Chicago's final 22 regular-season games due to a sprained right wrist, though he's expected to have a normal offseason ahead of the 2025-26 season, according to K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network.
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Bulls' Lonzo Ball: Will avoid wrist surgery
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Ball said Thursday that he won't require surgery on his sprained right wrist and expects to have a normal offseason, K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network reports.
Though Ball had missed the entire 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons while recovering from three surgeries on his left knee, he noted that his knee held up "better than expected" in his return to the court in 2024-25. Instead, it was the right wrist that he first sprained in an Oct. 28 game that was the primary culprit in limiting him to just 35 appearances on the season. He missed 15 straight games after initially suffering the injury, then missed the final 22 games of the regular season plus Wednesday's 109-90 loss to the Heat in the Play-In Tournament due to a recurrence of the injury. While Ball was able to make an impact on the defensive end and as a passer with averages of 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.5 blocks in 22.2 minutes per game, the sprained wrist may at least partially explain his shooting struggles. Ball turned in a 50.4 effective field goal percentage, his lowest rate since 2018-19 (48.8 percent).
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Bulls' Lonzo Ball: Misses final 23 games of 2024-25
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Ball (wrist) didn't play in Chicago's last 23 games of the season, including Wednesday's 109-90 Play-In Game loss to the Heat. He finished the regular season with averages of 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.9 three-pointers and 1.3 steals in 22.2 minutes per game over 35 appearances while shooting 36.6 percent from the field.
After he hadn't played since January 2022 after requiring three surgeries on his left knee, Ball received full medical clearance to return to the court ahead of the 2024-25 season. While Ball didn't incur any setbacks with his knee over the course of the season, he was still limited to 35 games due to a sprained right wrist, an illness and general injury management. The wrist issue in particular proved to be problematic for Ball, who first suffered the injury in late October and missed 15 straight games, then suffered a recurrence of the injury in early March that kept him off the floor for the final 22 games of the regular season as well as the play-in contest. Ball will presumably be fully recovered from the wrist sprain ahead of training camp and will return for his fifth season with the Bulls after signing a one-year, $10 million extension in February.
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Bulls' Lonzo Ball: Ruled out for Play-In Game
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Ball (wrist) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Heat.
Ball will miss a 23rd consecutive game due to a wrist sprain. The veteran guard still has a chance to return to the floor for Chicago, depending on how things pan out in the Play-In Tournament. Kevin Huerter will continue to shoulder the load in the backcourt along with Dalen Terry, Talen Horton-Tucker and Jevon Carter.
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Bulls' Lonzo Ball: Likely out Wednesday
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Ball (wrist) is officially doubtful for Wednesday's Play-In Game against the Heat.
Ball will likely miss a 23rd straight game due to a sprained right wrist. The veteran guard's season will end if he doesn't suit up, and Chicago cannot advance in the Play-In Tournament. The team should continue to lean on Kevin Huerter and Dalen Terry (calf) to shoulder the load in the backcourt.
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Bulls' Lonzo Ball: Unlikely for Play-In Tournament
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Head coach Billy Donovan said Sunday that Ball (wrist) will resume basketball activities Monday but is unlikely to be available for Wednesday's Play-In Tournament meeting with the Heat, K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network reports.
Ball has not played since Feb. 28 due to a sprained right wrist, and Sunday's game marks the 22nd straight game he'll miss as a result. His return to basketball activities is a sign that he is progressing in his recovery, and while he doesn't appear to be available for the Play-In Tournament, the hope is that he can play in the first round of the playoffs if the Bulls advance that far.
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Bulls' Lonzo Ball: Another absence coming
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Ball (wrist) is out for Sunday's game versus the 76ers.
Ball's absence streak will extend to 22 games Sunday due to a sprained right wrist. Ball's next chance to suit up is Wednesday's Play-In Game against Miami.
