The Los Angeles Lakers and the Charlotte Hornets will meet Wednesday for a make-up game, resuming their seasons earlier than planned following the All-Star break. Originally set for January 9, the game had to be postponed due to the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
While the Hornets initially prepared to face the Lakers with Anthony Davis, they will now have to deal with a new challenge in the form of Luka Doncic, who joined Los Angeles on February 2.
Doncic has played two games for the Lakers so far, both against the Utah Jazz. He scored 14 points in a home win on February 10 and followed it up with 16 points in a road loss to the Jazz last Wednesday. These games marked his return after missing more than a month due to a calf injury.
Despite last week’s loss, the Lakers have won 10 of their past 12 games. LeBron James, who is focused on the final two months of the season, opted out of Sunday’s All-Star festivities due to soreness in his left foot and ankle. James, who is continuing to build chemistry with Doncic, is listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game.
During All-Star weekend, James shared his excitement about playing alongside Doncic, calling him a “generational talent.” “To add a caliber player like that to our franchise, it’s something that’s given me energy,” James said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do. We only had two games so far, and I believe he’s been on a minutes restriction since he came back from the calf. As he continues to get in form, I think we could be really good going down the stretch.”
Meanwhile, the Hornets enter the game having struggled recently, losing three straight games before the break and nine of their last 10. In their last meeting with Los Angeles on January 27, Charlotte fell 112-107 at home. During that game, LaMelo Ball was forced to leave after just nine minutes due to a left ankle injury. Ball has only played two games since, including one on February 10 against the Brooklyn Nets, where he injured his right ankle. He is listed as probable for Wednesday’s game.
Despite not being named an All-Star this season, Ball has been putting up impressive numbers with averages of 27.3 points, 7.2 assists, and 5.1 rebounds in 33 games. His absence has been deeply felt by the Hornets, who have won just one of the 18 games he has missed this season. As a Los Angeles-area native, Ball’s return is crucial for the Hornets’ chances in this matchup.
Before the trade deadline, the Hornets and Lakers were close to completing a deal that would have sent Cam Reddish and rookie Dalton Knecht to Charlotte in exchange for big man Mark Williams. However, the trade was canceled after Williams failed his physical in Los Angeles. Williams is listed as probable for the game and, if he plays, it will be his first action since the failed deal.
The Hornets expressed their excitement about Williams’ return, praising his talent, work ethic, and character. “We are thrilled to see him rejoin our roster as a dynamic presence at the starting center position. His return strengthens our team, and we look forward to the impact he will make on and off the court,” the team said in a statement.
Williams had 11 points and eight rebounds in the Hornets’ loss to the Lakers last month, but struggled to guard Davis, who scored 42 points and grabbed 23 rebounds in the contest. Davis, of course, was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Doncic.
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