LaMelo Ball’s obscure feat vs. Magic overshadowed by Hornets’ vexing loss

LaMelo Ball has shown this season why he is one of the most entertaining players to watch in the NBA. In the Charlotte Hornets' past two games, he combined to score 94, displaying his deep arsenal of offensive weapons, including one-legged 3-pointers, wicked dribbling moves, and a newfound affinity for runners.

Unfortunately, Ball's high-scoring feats came in devastating losses. He had a 50-point double-double outing against the Milwaukee Bucks, who withstood the Hornets' rally in the closing minutes to hold on for the 125-110 win.

On Monday, Charlotte's defense in the first three quarters against the Orlando Magic deserved praise. The team clung onto a 62-58 lead entering the fourth period before the Magic's 37-point explosion blew the game open. It still managed to hold an opponent to fewer than 100 points for the first time in the 2024-25 campaign, but its offense went missing.

Ball outscoring the Magic's starters went for naught

The only things working on offense for the Hornets were Ball's wizardry and Brandon Miller's decent performance. However, the lack of healthy bodies doomed the Hive squad. It was even already evident in the first quarter when Charles Lee had to put Nick Smith Jr. and KJ Simpson on the floor.

Ball, of course, did his best to lift Charlotte to victory, a burden he has carried on his shoulders for most of the season. He ended up with 44 points, four more than his teammates combined scoring production, as has been well-documented by various media outlets.

But what isn't that much known is that the no-brainer 2025 All-Star selection also outscored the Magic's entire starting lineup.

With Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr., and Jalen Suggs sitting out the meeting because of injuries, Orlando fielded a five-man group of Franz Wagner, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Goga Bitadze, and Gary Harris at the opening tip-off. Wagner led all Magic scorers with 21, and his fellow starters collectively matched his output.

Orlando was buoyed to the victory by its bench, which put up 53 points. In comparison, its Hornets counterparts scored just 15. Even Magic reserves Moritz Wagner and Cole Anthony each recorded more, registering 16 markers apiece.

The lack of offensive support around Ball may have irked many among the Hornets faithful. However, the Monday matchup was the perfect storm for the organization as it faced the league's top-ranked defense without several of its key players, including starters Mark Williams and Miles Bridges, as well as its fourth-leading scorer Tre Mann.

Still, Charlotte can't just wait around and rely on the hope that the injured players will return as soon as possible (except for Grant Williams, who is out for the season). The coaching staff has to be more creative in providing Ball with more help. Otherwise, the star guard's stellar performances will go down the drain.