LaMelo Ball suffers fractured right wrist, expected to be out for season

LaMelo Ball’s wrist injury suffered on Saturday night may be worse than originally believed. The Athletic’s Shams Charania first reported on Sunday evening that the Hornets feared LaMelo Ball suffered a fractured right wrist before the Charlotte Observer’s Rick Bonnell confirmed the report.

Shortly thereafter, the Hornets confirmed that LaMelo Ball suffered a right wrist injury and would be listed out indefinitely:

The Charlotte Hornets announced that guard LaMelo Ball underwent a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) exam today in San Antonio on his right wrist. The initial diagnosis revealed that Ball has suffered a fractured bone in his right wrist. Ball, who will be further evaluated, will be listed as out indefinitely and additional updates will be provided when available.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, though, reported that Ball is expected to miss the remainder of the season with the injury. Wojnarowski also noted that Ball is seeking a second opinion to confirm the diagnosis.

Ball suffered the injury during the second quarter of Saturday’s game in Los Angeles against the Clippers while breaking his fall following a foul. Ball remained in the game, taped his wrist at halftime and returned to the court in the second half.

However, after noticeably favoring the wrist for much of the half, Ball was eventually removed from the game and did not return. Initially, the Hornets listed Ball as probable for Monday’s game with a right wrist sprain on Sunday evening.

Ball had led the Hornets to a 20-21 record and the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. As a starter, Ball averaged 19.5 points, 6.2 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 46.4% from the field, 42.6% from the 3-point line and 81.1% from the free throw line.