Lonzo Ball will miss his first matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, according to Andrew Lopez of ESPN. The New Orleans Pelicans guard was sent home from practice on Tuesday with a stomach virus. He was listed as questionable going into Wednesday’s game.
Since Ball was demoted to the bench upon his return earlier this month, there will be no change to the starting lineup. However, his injury will open up playing time for guards like Frank Jackson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Josh Hart, who will play on Wednesday after missing the last seven games with a knee injury.
Jackson and Alexander-Walker have both been struggling from the field as of late, so hopefully more playing time and shots will help them get out of their slump. If not, Jrue Holiday and JJ Redick will have to carry the scoring load.
Derrick Favors has also been ruled out for Wednesday’s matchup with the Lakers. Favors has missed eight games this season, including the last five. Without Favors, the Pelicans will have to rely on the likes of rookie Jaxson Hayes and Jahlil Okafor to guard a motivated Anthony Davis. That’s not to mention the the Lakers’ center tandem of JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard.
Suffice to say, things could get ugly quickly.
Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m PST on ESPN.
