Hornets' star LaMelo Ball fractures right ankle

LaMelo Ball left the game and headed to the locker room during the third quarter after injuring his ankle on a driving play. Subsequent X-rays revealed the fracture. 

Ball has had a fantastic season when he has been available to play, which unfortunately for the Hornets, has not been very often. 

He has only appeared in 35 of a possible 63 games this season and did not even make his season debut till mid-November after missing the early part of the season with a left ankle sprain.

LaMelo was in fine form as usual before picking up the injury, with 18 points, six assists, and five rebounds already on his stat sheet.

The Hornets' record this season stands at 20-43 which basically means there is very little hope of even making the play-in. Ball will now almost certainly miss the remainder of the season.

 It remains to be seen how this impacts the Hornets' lottery prospects moving forward.