For the second straight day on Thursday, Lonzo Ball was held out of practice for the New Orleans Pelicans. Ball sat out practice on Wednesday after cramps and minor ankle tweak during the second half of Monday’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
Head coach Alvin Gentry addressed Ball sitting out of practice during his media availability on Thursday.
“He didn’t practice today. We just, once again, if we were in the playoffs and there was going to be a playoff game, he probably would have but there’s no reason to rush anything seven games into the season.”
Gentry was later asked about Ball’s availability for Friday’s game against the Toronto Raptors and said he expects him to play even though he’ll likely be a game-time decision.
Gentry: “Yeah I think so. I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t. He’ll be a gametime decision but after talking to him today, I think he feels pretty good.”
Reporter: Is it still just cramps? Did he tweak anything?
Gentry: “It’s little things like that. Like I said, it’s not anything we’re concerned about. We’ll just see how he feels tomorrow.”
Ball is one of the few starters to not miss a game to start the season. A 1-6 start to the year has been made worse by injuries to Jrue Holiday, Zion Williamson and Derrick Favors, three key pieces heading into the year that have all missed at least one game this season.
The Pelicans will return home after a brief road trip to play Toronto for the second time this season on Friday evening.
