The Charlotte Hornets are not playing like the same team from a few weeks ago.
After struggling to an 8-28 record over the season’s first two-plus months, Charlotte will bring a season-high three-game win streak into its game at the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.
The Hornets recently lost rising star Brandon Miller indefinitely due to a torn ligament in his right wrist, but the team travels to Memphis with one of the NBA’s emerging playmakers in 23-year-old LaMelo Ball.
Ball is averaging 29.3 points per game, which ranks fourth in the NBA entering Tuesday, and dishes out 7.6 assists per game, good for eighth in the league. He has made a 3-pointer in 48 straight games and leads the NBA in fourth-quarter scoring average (8.9 points).
His solid play has him in position to be named to his second All-Star Game. Starters will be announced Thursday.
Ball has impressed Hornets coach Charles Lee not only with his offensive contributions, but his defensive play as well.
“His two-way play has really helped us,” Lee said. “We’ve made an effort to play with more pace offensively. I think the whole squad has kind of bought into that. And he’s really the head of the snake when it comes to pace and either go finish in the attack or collapse the defense and kick out for some easy opportunities.”
Ball also has had an impressive run as a distributor, dishing at least nine assists in each of his past four games.
Lee praised Ball’s willingness to trust his teammates.
“You know how it is sometimes,” Lee said. “(You’ve) thrown it to a guy a couple of times and a turnover happens or a missed shot happens. It’s very easy to say `OK, I’ve got to do it myself.’ I’ve been really impressed how he’s helping bring everyone along with him.”
Ball had 23 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in Monday’s 110-105 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Miles Bridges also scored 23 for Charlotte.
Memphis is on a roll of its own, having won four of its last five. The Grizzlies scored a late come-from-behind win Monday over the Minnesota Timberwolves, erasing a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter to prevail 108-106.
The Grizzlies shot just 43 percent from the floor but closed the game by making nine straight free throws in the final 4:14. Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 24 points and 11 rebounds.
Jackson, also an All-Star candidate, scored 15 of his points in the fourth quarter. He played the entire fourth period and scored four of the team’s final six points.
Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said Jackson has proven throughout his seven-year career that he can be a go-to option and another closer besides two-time All-Star Ja Morant.
“He’s a two-way player and he’s elite at it,” Jenkins said of Jackson. “And, obviously, he had a huge impact in our success (against Minnesota).”
Memphis will play the second game of a four-game homestand that ends Saturday. The Grizzlies are 16-5 at FedExForum this season.
–Field Level Media
