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117 articles
CHA • Point Guard • #1
1 day ago
Ball continues to have great fantasy stats, but he didn’t have a great game against the Pistons on Friday. The 24-year-old point guard needed 20 attempts to get his 27 points and had four turnovers. As the starting point guard, he certainly had a hand in the Hornets scoring just 10 points in the fourth quarter as the Pistons pulled away. Charlotte will close out the season against the Knicks on Sunday.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
5 days ago
Ball followed up his 35-point performance in Sunday’s win over the Timberwolves with 36 points against the Celtics, though the Hornets weren’t fortunate enough to win this time. The 24-year-old point guard has been as advertised this year. There were great highs and lows, but in the end Ball stayed healthy and provided fourth-round per game value over the course of the season. That’s a win for his fantasy managers this year.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
7 days ago
Ball had two 30-point games in the entire month of March and wasted no time by dropping 35 points in his third game in April. The 24-year-old point guard caught fire from downtown as he made 7-of-14 attempts from behind the three-point line. Ball has provided fifth-round per game value over the last two weeks. The Hornets have three games in the final week of the regular season, starting with a matchup against the Celtics on Tuesday.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
10 days ago
Ball’s point total may not have been as high as many fantasy managers have grown accustomed to, but he had one of his best floor games of the season on Thursday. In addition to racking up 11 assists, the Hornets point guard did not commit a turnover. This was Ball’s first game of the season in which he reached double figures in assists without committing a turnover. His efficiency has improved since the All-Star break, a big reason the Hornets have locked up a spot in the Play-In tournament and can still finish in the top-6 of the East.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
15 days ago
Ball had an opportunity to tie Saturday’s game in the final seconds, but his three-point attempt fell short of the mark. The Hornets’ point guard did not shoot the ball well, but the good news was that he kept the turnovers in check, which was not always the case in the past. Ball committed just two turnovers against the 76ers, and the assists and three-pointers were certainly useful to fantasy managers. Ball will look to clean up the shooting when the Hornets host the Celtics on Sunday.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
17 days ago
Ball’s improvement as a point guard is one of the reasons the Hornets still have a chance to avoid the play-in tournament altogether. He committed just one turnover against the Knicks and shot 50 percent from the field. And since the All-Star break, Ball has provided second-round value in eight-cat formats. The version of LaMelo that fantasy managers have seen in 2026 is the one they’ve been hoping to see for years.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
19 days ago
Ball continues to produce at a high level despite playing limited minutes due to lopsided scores. Over the past two weeks, he ranks inside the top 10 in nine-category leagues while playing just 26.3 minutes per game. Charlotte has won four straight games but will run into a much harder matchup against the Knicks on Thursday. Hopefully, that means more minutes for Ball in a closer game.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
22 days ago
Ball and the Hornets did what was expected on Saturday, picking up a 124-101 victory in which they outscored the lottery-bound Grizzlies in all four quarters. Having shot 7-of-20 from deep in his prior two appearances, LaMelo was 7-of-14 against Memphis. Ball and the Hornets begin a four-game Week 22 on Tuesday against the Kings, another team focused on player development and the draft lottery at this point in the season.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
24 days ago
Ball got off to a hot start to this game, scoring 14 points in the first quarter. While he didn’t contribute much scoring after that, he was still able to turn in a full stat line. He certainly could’ve put up even more if the score wasn’t so lopsided; Ball only ended up playing 20 minutes. That extra rest should help him stay hot against the Grizzlies on Saturday.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
26 days ago
After a quieter night in limited minutes against the Spurs on Saturday, he bounced back with a monster showing in this one. He scored 30 points for the second time in their last three games and had his most assists in a game since December. Ball’s availability has been a big reason that Charlotte has had success recently, and he’ll look to stay hot against the Magic on Thursday.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
29 days ago
After playing 31 minutes in Wednesday’s win over the Kings, Ball was limited to 22 minutes on Saturday. Early foul trouble was an issue for the Hornets’ point guard, but he still managed to record a solid overall stat line. Since the break, Ball has provided fourth-round value in eight-cat formats. He and the Hornets open a three-game Week 21 on Tuesday against the Heat.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
about 1 month ago
Ball was one of four Hornets starters to score at least 20 points in Tuesday’s victory, with the point guard producing his first 30-point game since a February 22 win over the Wizards. Since the All-Star break, he has been providing fourth-round per-game value in eight-cat formats. The Hornets play once more in Week 20, a road game against the Spurs on Saturday.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
about 1 month ago
For the first time since the All-Star break, Ball has scored at least 20 points in back-to-back games. While he shot 4-of-12 from beyond the arc, the overall efficiency was good. Ball shot just under 50 percent from the field and kept the turnovers in check, committing two. The Hornets continue their road trip with three games in Week 20, starting with a back-to-back against the Trail Blazers and Kings on Tuesday and Wednesday.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
about 1 month ago
The Hornets have now won six straight games, with four players scoring between 17 and 20 points in Wednesday’s 118-89 blowout of the Celtics. Ball’s field-goal percentage may not have been elite, and the assist tally was a bit low. However, Wednesday’s game was his third this season without a turnover, with two being recorded after the All-Star break. Ball as an efficient playmaker makes the Hornets a dangerous team and increases his value in nine-cat formats.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
about 1 month ago
Though it was a rough shooting night for him, Ball was still able pour in the counting stats as the Hornets won their fifth straight game by at least 15 points. He also set a new season high for steals. Charlotte has been able to manage LaMelo’s minutes recently due to the amount of lopsided wins, which should allow him to be at full strength in Boston on Wednesday despite it being the second night of a back-to-back.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
about 1 month ago
The limiting factor for LaMelo recently has been that Charlotte keeps blowing teams out. He only played 22 minutes in this game but was efficient during his time on the floor. Ball has played 50 games this season, meaning he just needs to play in two more to surpass his total games played as a rookie and make this the second-most games he has played in during a season. With a player as talented as Ball, availability is the most important ability.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
about 2 months ago
LaMelo’s 10 three-pointers tied the Hornets franchise record. The 24-year-old point guard played only 27 minutes, but caught fire from beyond the arc. Ball also had seven assists and zero turnovers, only adding to his masterful performance. The Hornets have three games upcoming in Week 18, starting with a matchup against the Bulls on Tuesday.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
about 2 months ago
In the past, a poor shooting night would lead to Ball having a terribly inefficient night overall. He’s grown this season, and the Hornets point guard committed two turnovers in Friday’s defeat. That was one of the reasons why Charlotte was able to hang with the Cavaliers despite LaMelo struggling with his shot. Fantasy managers may not take much solace in that, but it’s a clear sign of growth for the point guard.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
2 months ago
Ball didn’t shoot the ball well on Saturday, but he offered value in other ways. His nine assists led the Hornets, and he committed just two turnovers. During Charlotte’s nine-game win streak, he’s averaged 2.7 turnovers per game, an improvement on his season average (3.1). Ball will have his work cut out for him on Monday, as the Hornets open a five-game Week 17 at home against the Pistons.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
2 months ago
While Ball is shooting 39.7 percent from the field over the past two weeks, his overall production is one reason why the Hornets have won their last eight games. Since shooting 0-of-10 from three in a January 21 loss to the Cavaliers, LaMelo has made at least two triples in each game of the win streak. While turnovers and shot selection can still be an issue for Ball, he’s making strides to the delight of the Hornets and fantasy managers.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
2 months ago
Ball took a hit to the face early in this game after both he and head coach Charles Lee went for a ball that was going out of bounds. Ball went to the locker room, but he was able to return and push Charlotte’s winning streak to seven games. Ball hasn’t been the only reason for Charlotte’s recent success, but he has only missed three games since November, which is a great development for him. They continue to manage his minutes, which has allowed him to stay available. That limits his impact in the box score, but he’s still able to be more productive that most players in limited action.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
2 months ago
Though Ball’s injury appears to be minor, fantasy managers should keep an eye on his playing time for the rest of the game and check to see if he shows up on the injury report ahead of Thursday’s matchup with the Rockets.
Source: Hornets PR
CHA • Point Guard • #1
2 months ago
Inclement weather, which prevented the Spurs from getting back to Texas after losing on Saturday in Charlotte until mid-afternoon Sunday, is the reason for the time change. Fantasy managers with Pelicans or Hornets on their rosters will need to set their lineups a few hours earlier than they may have planned.
Source: NBA Communications
CHA • Point Guard • #1
2 months ago
While Ball didn’t have the best day shooting the basketball, including a 3-of-9 afternoon from inside the arc, his work as a playmaker helped the Hornets extend their win streak to six games. During the run, the Hornets’ point guard’s assist-to-turnover ratio has been excellent, with Ball recording 47 assists and 17 turnovers. He’s shooting just 36.5 percent from the field over the last two weeks, which has negatively affected Ball’s fantasy value. That said, fantasy managers should be encouraged by the decrease in turnovers.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
3 months ago
Recently, the Hornets have taken measures to manage Ball’s workload, so the training staff must have loved Monday’s outcome. Charlotte won by a large margin, beating the 76ers 130-93, which led to Ball playing only 20 minutes. Fantasy managers who have him rostered would have hoped for a more competitive game given the impact on Ball’s playing time, but keeping him healthy throughout the season is Charlotte’s priority.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
3 months ago
Ball played 32 minutes for the first time in 12 days, a span of five games. The 24-year-old had 20 points on 19 field goal attempts, but his real value came from setting up teammates. Ball had 11 assists and the Hornets won their third consecutive game when he has double-digit assists. He’s provided seventh-round per game value over the last two weeks.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
3 months ago
Ball got off to a hot start for Charlotte, scoring eight of their first 11 points and assisting on the other three. He didn’t stay that hot, but he was back in the starting lineup after coming off the bench on Wednesday. He logged 28 minutes after playing 22 minutes on Wednesday. The limited minutes may get frustrating during these back-to-backs, but Ball has been able to stay healthy for about the past month, which can only be seen as a positive.
CHA • Point Guard • #1
3 months ago
Due to the expectation of inclement weather in the Charlotte area, the start time for Saturday’s game has been moved up to 12 p.m. Eastern. Fantasy managers need to be mindful of this when setting their lineups for that day.
Source: Charlotte Hornets
CHA • Point Guard • #1
3 months ago
Ball will be back in the starting unit after coming off the bench during the first leg of this back-to-back, which is a new strategy that they’ve used during their last few back-to-backs to maximize his availability. That will push Sion James to the bench.
Source: Charlotte Hornets
CHA • Point Guard • #1
3 months ago
Ball was initially listed as questionable to play against Orlando after coming off the bench on Wednesday, which is a tactic they have used during back-to-backs to ensure LaMelo can play both legs and be available to close games. He should be back in the starting lineup for this game since that is what they’ve done in recent back-to-backs, which means Sion James will head to the bench.
Source: NBA Injury Report