Outside of just operating in screening actions, fans can expect some vintage LaMelo Ball chicanery if he makes his return in Cream City on Friday.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the OKC Thunder will face Miles Bridges and the Charlotte Hornets on the road at 6 p.m. Saturday.

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In his return to the lineup after missing five games with an ankle impingement, LaMelo Ball looked like...LaMelo Ball. And that is great news for the Charlotte

This season, Charlotte sits 14th in offensive rating. In the last four games without Ball, they have slid to 19th. The Hornets are used to missing Ball, and the offensive rating has struggled over the years without his shot creation for himself and for his teammates.

Charlotte Hornets rookie makes history with record-breaking shooting start originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. With a 3-7 record, the Charlotte Hornets are off to a horrible start to their 2025-26 season.

Tonight, the Charlotte Hornets will return home to Spectrum Center looking to snap a two-game skid against Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James will be out for this one, but the Hornets are still shorthanded with LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller on the shelf.

Despite the absence of LeBron James, the L.A. Lakers defeated the Charlotte Hornets 121-111 on Monday night behind 38 points from Luka Doncic.