LaMelo Ball Sits Out Thunder Game for Rest After Returning From Absence

LaMelo Ball, a 24-year-old guard for the Charlotte Hornets, will not play Saturday against the Thunder due to rest, a decision unsurprising given his injury history and the team playing a back-to-back set. He had just returned from a five-game absence on Friday, where he recorded a double-double with 16 points (5-15 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 4-5 FT), 10 assists, and three rebounds in 27 minutes. For Saturday's game, Tre Mann and Collin Sexton are expected to see increased playing time in Ball's absence. Ball, who signed a five-year, $205.9 million extension in July 2023, is currently averaging 22.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 9.9 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.1 blocks in the 2025 season.