UPDATE: Ball has been ruled out.
Ball ($9,500) has been downgraded from probable to questionable for Tuesday’s game vs. the Hawks with a wrist injury. With Miles Bridges (rest) already ruled out for this game, Ball figured to handle an even larger role than usual for the Hornets. However, with Charlotte tanking as the season winds down to improve their chances in the lottery, Ball sitting tonight now feels very likely.
Ball has played in 44 games this season, and he is averaging 25.4 points, 7.2 assists, and 5.1 rebounds in 32.1 minutes per game. Ball and Bridges lead the Hornets in usage this season. If Ball joins Bridges on the sidelines tonight, Mark Williams ($8,100) should become the focal point of the Hornets’ offense. Plus, Nick Smith Jr. ($4,700) would likely replace Ball in the starting lineup and Smith Jr., DaQuan Jeffries ($4,000), and Josh Green ($3,900) would all be in line for expanded roles, making them viable punt plays for DFS.
As a team, the Hornets will be in big trouble if Ball sits, as Charlotte is 1-6 with both Ball and Bridges inactive this season. While the Hawks have lost two in a row, they would likely cruise to an easy win if Ball is absent and backing Atlanta at -8 on DraftKings Sportsbook is a smart move with Ball trending towards being out.
