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LaMelo Ball Injury Update: February 27 vs. the Mavericks

LaMelo Ball Injury Update: February 27 vs. the Mavericks

NBA News

Updated:

By: Alex Hunter

UPDATE: Ball has been ruled out.

Ball ($9,500) has been downgraded to questionable for Thursday’s game vs. the Mavericks with an ankle injury. The guard has missed nine of the Hornets’ last 14 games, so Ball sitting again Thursday wouldn’t be surprising.

Ball has appeared in 36 games this season and he is averaging 26.3 points, 7.1 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game with a 34.8% usage rate, which ranks second in the NBA, only trailing Giannis Antetokounmpo.

With Ball out this past Tuesday vs. the Warriors, KJ Simpson ($4,300) moved into Charlotte’s starting lineup and posted 16 points, six rebounds and two assists across a team-high 35.4 minutes of work (29.5 FPTS). If Simpson starts in place of Ball again, he will be an appealing value play for DFS against this Dallas defense that ranks 24th in rating over their last ten games.

Miles Bridges ($8,200) will also stand out as a high-end option for DFS. In the 14 starts Bridges has made without Ball this season, Bridges is leading the Hornets with a 44 FPTS per game and 32.5% usage rate, which is a 4.7 percentage point jump from his season average.

As a team, Charlotte has been pitiful with Ball inactive this season with a 1-20 record. With Ball possibly out again Thursday, the Hornets deservedly so are a 10.5-point road underdog vs. the Mavericks on DraftKings Sportsbook.

Alex Hunter
Alex Hunter is an avid DFS player and sports handicapper, who has been a proud member of the DraftKings Network team since 2020. He is a data-driven analyst, who earned his bachelor’s degree in communications at Worcester State University and has been in the sports content business for nearly a decade, covering the NBA, NFL and PGA TOUR. Alex is a diehard Boston Celtics fan, who loves to be on the golf course when he isn’t grinding lineups or producing content. For all of Alex’s work or if you need any lineup advice, be sure to follow him @Hunta512 on X.
Disclaimer

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is Hunta512) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.