Lonzo Ball was in street clothes when the New Orleans Pelicans take on the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on Friday because of the stomach virus that kept him out of Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Ball has now missed eight of the Pelicans’ 18 games this season. Ball will be re-evaluated ahead of their rematch with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. The Pelicans are 0-1 against the Thunder this season.
Ball’s health was going to be an “X Factor” for the Pelicans this season after he missed 65 games in his first two season with the Lakers. So far, it’s been more of the same with Ball, even if the injuries are less serious than the two previous season-ending injuries.
Ball has averaged 11.1 points per game on 38.7% shooting from the field, including a career-high 34.3% from behind the arc. He has also averaged 4.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.3 steals through eight games.
