Timberwolves' LaMelo Ball: Expected to play Wednesday
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Ball (rest) is expected to suit up for Wednesday's regular-season opener against Miami.
Ball was one of many Timberwolves regulars who sat out Friday's preseason finale, though he should make his regular-season debut with the team Wednesday. The star point guard averaged 9.5 points, 5.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 19.4 minutes per game across four appearances this preseason.
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Timberwolves' LaMelo Ball: Resting for preseason finale
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Ball (rest) won't play in Friday's preseason finale against the Bulls, Chuck Swirsky of the Bulls Radio Network reports.
Ball, Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert and Ayo Dosunmu will all sit for the final exhibition. Ball should be good to go for Wednesday's regular-season opener against the Heat.
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Timberwolves' LaMelo Ball: Hands out six dimes
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Ball recorded three points (1-5 FG, 1-4 3Pt), two rebounds and six assists across 18 minutes in Wednesday's 128-106 preseason loss to Detroit.
Ball struggled to generate offense for himself, making just one field goal and committing three turnovers. However, he continued to facilitate for his teammates, leading Minnesota's starters with six assists despite the limited playing time. The Timberwolves will look for greater scoring efficiency from their new point guard as he develops chemistry with Anthony Edwards and the rest of the starting unit.
Ball supplied 10 points (3-7 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 3-3 FT), seven assists, three rebounds and one block across 22 minutes in Monday's 122-104 preseason win over New York.
After resting Saturday, Ball returned to action and showcased his playmaking skills with a game-high seven assists, though the 25-year-old also committed a game-high five turnovers. Coming off a 2025-26 campaign with Charlotte in which he averaged 20.1 points, 7.1 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals across 72 regular-season appearances, Ball will look to form a dynamic backcourt duo with Anthony Edwards in Minnesota.
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Timberwolves' LaMelo Ball: Back in action Monday
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Ball (rest) is in the starting lineup for Monday's preseason game against the Knicks.
After resting Saturday, Ball is slated to return to action for Monday's road contest. The standout guard is averaging 12.5 points, 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds in 18.6 minutes per contest across two preseason appearances.
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Timberwolves' LaMelo Ball: Not playing Saturday
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Ball (rest) has been ruled out for Saturday's preseason game against the Heat.
Ball will get a breather Saturday, with Bones Hyland and Terrence Shannon get the start in the backcourt. Ball's next chance to take the floor is Monday against the Knicks, though his playing time will likely be limited until the Timberwolves' regular-season opener against the Heat on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
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Timberwolves' LaMelo Ball: Dishes out seven assists in preseason loss
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Ball provided 14 points (5-9 FG, 4-6 3Pt), seven assists and four rebounds in 20 minutes during Wednesday's 123-112 preseason loss to Indiana.
Ball turned in an efficient performance in his second appearance this preseason, scoring in double figures and connecting on multiple triples in both outings. The star floor general finished as Minnesota's third-leading scorer and knocked down a game-high-tying four triples. Ball also led the Timberwolves in assists during his limited run.
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Hornets' Miles Bridges: Takes step back in 2025-26
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Bridges ended Friday's 121-90 Play-In Game loss to the Magic with 15 points (5-12 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 4-4 FT), two rebounds and one assist across 28 minutes.
Bridges propelled the Hornets to a 127-126 overtime victory over the Heat in Tuesday's Play-In Game, when he logged 28 points, nine rebounds, two assists, three blocks and one steal over 43 minutes, though he was unable to replicate that production in Friday's elimination loss. Bridges was productive to open the 2025-26 season, but his numbers dipped significantly following the All-Star break. Over his final 24 regular-season outings from Feb. 24 to April 12, he averaged 14.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.5 threes and 0.8 steals over 28.3 minutes per game. Part of that dip had to do with Bridges taking a back seat to the likes of LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller. Bridges is slated to earn $22.8 million in 2026-27, which is the final year he is under contract with Charlotte.
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Hornets' Brandon Miller: Productive in third NBA season
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Miller closed with 14 points (5-10 FG, 4-7 3Pt), three rebounds, one assist and two steals over 29 minutes during Friday's 121-90 Play-In Game loss to the Magic.
Miller played a key role in the Hornets' 127-126 overtime win over the Heat on Tuesday, though he was unable to replicate that success in Friday's elimination game. The 2023 first-rounder has established himself as a franchise cornerstone for the Hornets alongside LaMelo Ball and 2025-26 Rookie of the Year candidate Kon Knueppel. Miller ended the 2025-26 regular season averaging 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 3.1 threes, 1.0 steals and 0.7 blocks over 30.3 minutes per game. He has two years left on his rookie contract (including a $21.2 million qualifying offer for 2027-28), though Miller could earn a rookie max extension from the Hornets in the offseason.
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Hornets' LaMelo Ball: Paces Charlotte in blowout loss
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Ball contributed 23 points (7-17 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 6-6 FT), five assists and two rebounds across 25 minutes in Friday's 121-90 Play-In Tournament loss to the Magic.
Ball didn't deliver his most efficient performance during Friday's season-ending loss, though he did lead the Hornets with 23 points. He also paced the team in assists. The 24-year-old point guard dropped 20-plus points in each of Charlotte's Play-In Tournament games and in 35 of his 72 regular-season appearances (69 starts). Ball took a step back on the offensive end but still averaged at least 20 points per game for a fifth consecutive campaign, finishing the regular season with averages of 20.1 points, 7.1 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 28.0 minutes per tilt.
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Hornets' LaMelo Ball: Drops 30 points in win
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Ball contributed 30 points (12-31 FG, 2-16 3Pt, 4-4 FT), 10 assists, five rebounds, one steal and one block across 40 minutes in Tuesday's 127-126 overtime win over the Heat in the Play-In Tournament.
Ball struggled mightily from beyond the arc but still scored a game-high 30 points, including the go-ahead layup in overtime. The star point guard also led all players in assists en route to his second double-double of April. Ball and the Hornets are now set to face the loser of Wednesday's matchup between the Magic and 76ers, and a win would send Charlotte to the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 campaign.
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Hornets' LaMelo Ball: Sniffs double-double Friday
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Ball totaled 27 points (7-20 FG, 6-16 3Pt, 7-7 FT), five rebounds, eight assists, one block and two steals over 33 minutes during Friday's 118-100 loss to the Pistons.
The Hornets didn't have their best performance in this matchup against the No. 1 seed in the East, but Ball delivered a strong line that saw him finish just two assists away from a double-double. The lack of efficiency can be a concern, but fantasy managers will gladly overlook that as long as Ball continues to fill the stat sheet as he did Friday. Ball was coming off back-to-back games with at least 35 points, and while his role as the Hornets' go-to offensive weapon is not under threat, it remains to be seen if he'll suit up in the season finale against the Knicks on Sunday.
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Hornets' LaMelo Ball: Scores 18 points with full line
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Ball contributed 18 points (6-15 FG, 5-12 3Pt, 1-2 FT), six rebounds, nine assists and two steals over 30 minutes during Friday's 129-108 win over the Pacers.
The Hornets have now won eight of their last 10 games and boast 18 victories of at least 20 points, a new franchise record. Ball has been balling since the All-Star break with averages of 20.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 4.0 triples, 1.3 steals and just 2.1 turnovers per contest, which has been good enough for top-30 value in 9-cat leagues.
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Hornets' LaMelo Ball: Chips in 22 points vs. New York
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Ball registered 22 points (7-14 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 4-4 FT), six assists and five rebounds over 36 minutes during the Hornets' 114-103 win over the Knicks on Thursday.
Ball helped the Hornets set the tone early with 10 points in the first quarter, and his 22 points were second most on the team behind rookie Kon Knueppel (26). Ball has scored at least 20 points in six of his last seven outings, and over that span he has averaged 24.0 points, 6.1 assists, 5.1 rebounds, 4.9 threes and 1.9 steals over 27.6 minutes per game. He has seen his averages decrease across the board this season while working alongside Knueppel, Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges; nonetheless, Ball has been a key piece to Charlotte's resurgent season.
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Hornets' LaMelo Ball: Stuffs stat sheet in win
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Ball chipped in 20 points (7-16 FG, 6-13 3Pt), eight assists, six rebounds and two steals across 23 minutes in Tuesday's 134-90 win over the Kings.
Despite playing just three quarters in the blowout win, Ball finished as Charlotte's second-leading scorer while knocking down a game-high-tying six triples. The star point guard has reached the 20-point threshold in four consecutive contests and has totaled 13 made triples over his last two games. Additionally, the 24-year-old led the Hornets in assists and steals, recording multiple swipes for a third straight game.
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Hornets' LaMelo Ball: Scores 29 in blowout win
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Ball notched 29 points (9-19 FG, 7-14 3Pt, 4-5 FT), three rebounds, four assists, one block and three steals in 29 minutes during Saturday's 124-101 win over Memphis.
Ball has been the barometer for the Hornets in recent weeks, and he's been delivering outstanding performances with remarkable consistency. The star floor general has scored at least 29 points in three of his last five appearances, and he's also carrying a streak of productivity. He has scored at least 15 points in all but one of his 16 outings since the All-Star break while also shooting 37.5 percent from three-point range.
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Hornets' LaMelo Ball: Comes out hot in Thursday's win
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Ball logged 20 points (7-13 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 3-3 FT), six rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block over 20 minutes in Thursday's 130-111 win over the Magic.
Ball sparked the Hornets with 14 points in the first quarter, and he may have had a more stat-filled first half had he not been in foul trouble, which limited him to 57 seconds in the second quarter. Still, Ball chipped in another six points in the third to reach the 20-point threshold and sat out for the whole fourth quarter due to Charlotte's large lead. He led the Hornets in steals -- he has logged at least three steals eight times this season -- and finished as the team's third-leading scorer behind Coby White (27 points) and Brandon Miller (25 points). Ball has scored at least 20 points in five of his last seven outings, averaging 22.0 points, 5.7 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 threes and 1.4 steals over 27.8 minutes per game in that span.
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Hornets' LaMelo Ball: Paces Charlotte in blowout win
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Ball supplied 30 points (11-22 FG, 4-12 3Pt, 4-5 FT), 13 assists, six rebounds and one steal across 33 minutes during Tuesday's 136-106 win over the Heat.
After putting up just 13 field-goal attempts in Saturday's loss to the Spurs, Ball was far more aggressive hunting his shot in this one. The star point guard turned in an efficient outing from the field and led Charlotte in scoring, reaching the 30-point threshold for the second time in the last three games. He also chipped in double-digit assists for the first time since Jan. 24 after totaling 11 dimes over the Hornets' previous three contests entering Tuesday. Ball has racked up seven double-doubles and a triple-double across 59 regular-season appearances, scoring 30 or more points on seven occasions this season.
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Hornets' LaMelo Ball: Ties career high in win
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Ball contributed 15 points (5-19 FG, 4-13 3Pt, 1-1 FT), nine assists, five rebounds, five steals and one block across 29 minutes in Tuesday's 117-90 win over the Mavericks.
Ball struggled mightily with efficiency, though he still finished as Charlotte's second-leading scorer. The star point guard also led the Hornets in assists and steals, matching his career high in swipes. With his five steals Tuesday, the sixth-year pro passed Kendall Gill for eighth place on the Hornets' all-time steals leaderboard. He has tallied at least one steal in six of his seven appearances since the All-Star break, averaging 18.9 points, 7.4 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals per contest over that stretch.
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Hornets' LaMelo Ball: Returns Tuesday
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Ball (undisclosed) returned to Tuesday's game against the Mavericks with 3:35 remaining in the second quarter, per the broadcast.
It's unclear why Ball exited to the locker room with the training staff earlier in the second. However, he quickly returned to the bench and was cleared to check back in.
