It didn't even take one whole game for the Charlotte Hornets to get back their starting lineup.
Mark Williams and Josh Green were two of the first casualties of the injury bug. But while Williams missed the Hornets' initial 20 games, Green has appeared in all but two of their games so far.
Miles Bridges and LaMelo Ball also had to spend a significant period on the sidelines. Both have already managed to recover enough to start suiting up for Charlotte again, even if they are still subject to minute restrictions.
Brandon Miller doesn't look like he'll be out for long
Unfortunately, Brandon Miller has to sit out perhaps a few more games as well after spraining his left ankle when the Hornets' projected starting lineup made its debut.
The Hornets faced off versus the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, losing 121-108. Of course, there are barely any reasons to overreact, as succumbing to Philadelphia could be understandable at this point. After all, their players' health has yet to peak, and the starters haven't had the opportunity to get some reps together.
However, a bigger loss for Charlotte was Miller having to leave the Sixers tiff, as he landed awkwardly after hitting a contested layup.
It remains unclear how long the rising star will be out. But a piece of good news met fans after he was listed as questionable for the squad's bout against the Washington Wizards on Thursday.
In addition, he made an appearance during the Hornets' shootaround. Miller participated wearing a thick ankle brace and not showing signs of being hurt. Hopefully, his ailment isn't too serious and will not keep him out for long. It also looks possible that he can return for the second leg of the squad's back-to-back. The next meeting will be a rematch with the Sixers.
Without the second-year swingman, the Hornets are struggling a bit against the league-worst Wizards. They entered halftime trailing 60-58.
Ball, who has so far scored 14 on 5-14 shooting, had to leave minutes before intermission after getting hit in the face. Williams, Bridges, and Seth Curry have provided offensive support, combining for 26 points.
However, Washington's offense has also clicked, with Malcolm Brogdon, an ideal trade target for Charlotte, putting up 17 points on 6-7 shooting off the bench.
It has been the same old story for the Hornets. They have been doing well in several areas, including scoring, rebounds (31), and assists (17). On the flip side, the whistle has been unfavorable for the team, with the Wizard having a significant advantage in number of trips to the free-throw line.
Maybe Charlotte can gain some ground in the second half. It will be tougher to do without Miller. But his teammates must pick up the slack, especially if the 22-year-old could be out for a while. Still, optimism abounds that he will return to the lineup soon.