What happens when the 14th seeds of the East and West face-off? We’ll find out soon as the New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center is ready to host the Charlotte Hornets for an all-important match up on Sunday. However, for both teams, the remaining 8 or 9 games would mean a direct curtain call on this season. They are not making it to the playoffs, both the Hornets and Pelicans. But there could’ve been a silver lining for Charlotte had LaMelo Ball been around. So, the major question—will he be around?

Well, for Melo, the season has ended early. On Friday, the Hornets officially informed the public that the 23-year-old point guard will undergo two minor procedures and will miss the rest of the season as a result. Ball is going for an arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle impingement, along with a procedure on his right wrist.

His road to recovery looks promising. The team assures he will regain full strength, with an entire off-season ahead. In just four to six weeks, he expects to return to full basketball activities and make his mark once again. Meanwhile, injuries cut LaMelo Ball‘s season short. In five seasons, his games played exceeded 52 only once—75 games in 2021-22. Now, with just 9 games left, the Hornets must push forward without him.

Well, at this point, it’s no surprise that one of the Ball brothers has suffered another injury. It’s like Ball and injuries go hand in hand! Lonzo spent three precious years recovering from injuries and surgeries. LiAngelo’s NBA career ended even before catching pace, and now LaMelo Ball is facing the same fate as his brother. At the same time, who said that without Melo, his team wouldn’t be able to pin down the New Orleans Pelicans? So, without further ado, let’s look at the injury reports of both teams ahead of their major clash.

What are Charlotte’s prospects without LaMelo Ball, and what’s happening with the Pelicans’ squad?

The Hornets’ injury woes deepen, testing their resilience. LaMelo Ball (ankle), Tre Mann (back), Brandon Miller (wrist), and Grant Williams (torn ACL) are all out for the season, leaving massive gaps in the lineup. Seth Curry (knee), Josh Green (shoulder), and Mark Williams (rest) remain sidelined, at least for now. Meanwhile, Josh Okogie (hamstring) and Tidjane Salaun (ankle) face game-time decisions, adding to the uncertainty. The possible starting lineup may look like:

• KJ Simpson (PG)
• DaQuan Jeffries (SG)
• Josh Green (SF)
• Miles Bridges (PF)
• Mark Williams (C)

On the other hand, the Pelicans are also battling a relentless injury storm. Trey Murphy III (shoulder), Herbert Jones (shoulder), and Dejounte Murray (Achilles) are all out for the season, stripping the team of key contributors. CJ McCollum (foot), Zion Williamson (back), and Brandon Boston Jr. (ankle) remain sidelined, at least for now. Meanwhile, Kelly Olynyk (Achilles) and Jordan Hawkins (back) face game-time decisions, escalating their dilemma. Thus, the predicted lineup could be:

• Jose Alvarado (PG)
• Jordan Hawkins (SG)
• Bruce Brown Jr. (SF)
• Kelly Olynyk (PF)
• Yves Missi (C)

Thus, with LaMelo Ball sidelined, the Hornets face a daunting challenge. Their season ends in a whimper, not a fight. And the Pelicans, bruised and battered, share a similar fate. Sunday’s game won’t change their destiny, but pride is still on the line.