The Charlotte Hornets will hit the road to face off against the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday. Well, the Hornets are the second-last seed in the Eastern Conference and are 1-2 following the All-Star break. Surprisingly, Charlotte took down the Lakers, 100-97 thanks to a massive game from their point guard LaMelo Ball.
Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers are currently 13th in the Western Conference and most recently lost against the Lakers, 110-102. This marked their fourth straight defeat after winning an impressive ten out of eleven games. Now, they’ll eye a season sweep over the Hornets. So, if the Hornets need to cause an upset, they will require LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams. The question is, are they fit for tonight’s clash?
Hornets’ injury report before the Trail Blazers clash
The Charlotte Hornets surprised quite a few people with their recent win over the Lakers away from home. However, LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams played huge roles in the victory. The fans want to know if the two will suit up tonight. Well, there’s good news for the Hornets faithful as LaMelo has been removed from the injury report indicating he’ll play tonight’s matchup.
So far, the 23-year-old leads the team in averaging a stellar 27.3 points. He also has been averaging 5.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game while shooting 41.8 percent from the field. Having Ball on the court will be a huge boost for Charlotte as they aim to grab a win tonight. There’s more good news as not just LaMelo but Mark Williams is also set to suit up against Portland.
Jan 24, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) dribbles on Detroit Pistons guard Monte Morris (5) in the second half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports.
The Hornets’ big man has been nothing but impressive this season grabbing 9.6 rebounds per game along with averaging 15.3 points. Having these two key players will significantly increase Charlotte’s chances of a victory tonight. Additionally, the Hornets do not have any other injury. However, the Trail Blazers will miss a few players due to injury.
This young Portland side will be without their shooting guard, Matisse Thybulle. As per coach Chauncey Billups, Thybulle has resumed 3-on-3 training after sustaining an ankle injury and will soon return to action. Moving on, Deandre Ayton is also ruled out after sustaining a left calf strain. Lastly, Justin Minaya is ruled out due to an ankle issue. So, it will be interesting to see what the Hornets do to their lineup with LaMelo and Mark’s return.
Charlotte Hornets’ predicted starting five for tonight
With LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams fit to play against the Trail Blazers coach Charles Lee will have to make some changes to his lineup. Rest assured, Miles Bridges is set to assume his role in the starting lineup alongside Ball and Williams. That’s due to his brilliant scoring form lately, the forward is averaging an impressive 20.2 points with 7.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists.
Here’s how the Hornets can lineup:
Position
Starters
PG
LaMelo Ball
SG
Nick Smith Jr.
SF
Josh Green
PF
Miles Bridges
C
Mark Williams
Overall, the Hornets are playing great basketball as of late especially, Miles Bridges. He’s been in red-hot form and will probably emulate that tonight as well. Moreover, the addition of LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams further tilts the odds in Charlotte’s favor. While the Trail Blazers are hit with injuries and do not have Ayton on the floor, they cannot be written off and could grab a win in front of their home crowd. So, let’s wait and watch who comes out on top of this battle.
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