On Wednesday, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and Brandon Ingram are set to play their first game against the Los Angeles Lakers since being traded by the team in July. However, there’s a chance that Ball won’t be available for the highly-anticipated matchup at Staples Center.
According to Marc J. Spears of ESPN’s The Undefeated, Ball was sent home from practice on Tuesday with a stomach virus and his availability for Wednesday’s matchup with the Lakers is up in the air.
If Ball misses Wednesday’s game, it will be the seventh game he’s missed within the first 20 games of the NBA regular season. He missed six consecutive games earlier this month with an adductor strain.
Ball being sidelined for Wednesday’s contest would also mean his return to Staples Center would be delayed to March 1, 2020. The Pelicans will host the Lakers two times before then — once on Jan. 3 and again on Feb. 25.
The Pelicans will be the underdogs going into Wednesday’s game regardless of whether or not Ball plays, but having a motivated Ball on the court would make the game more interesting for both the viewers at home and the fans at Staples.
We’ll get an update on Ball’s availability closer to tip-off on Wednesday.
