LaMelo returns vs. Spurs after 20-game absence

Charlotte Hornets star guard LaMelo Ball will return Friday against the San Antonio Spurs after missing 20 games with a sprained right ankle, the team announced.

The Hornets initially upgraded Ball to questionable on Thursday for the game versus the Spurs, which would be his first appearance in the lineup since Nov. 26.

The sprain was in the same ankle he fractured during the 2022-23 campaign.

Charlotte has struggled mightily in his absence, going just 3-17, including suffering an 11-game losing streak.

Ball was putting up a career-best 24.7 points per game before going down, shooting 44.3% from the field and 38.8% from deep while adding 8.2 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game.

After an All-Star sophomore season, Ball has played in just 51 games combined in the two years since.