LaMelo Ball put on a near-perfect performance against the Philadelphia 76ers, falling two assists shy of a triple-double. Unfortunately, the Charlotte Hornets could not come away with the win, extending their losing streak against the Sixers to 11.
That isn't even the Hornets' longest active losing streak, as they have been unable to muster a victory versus the LA Clippers in 14 contests. Still, it would have been nice if they didn't currently have a double-digit skid against two teams.
Charlotte almost secured the dub against the Sixers on Saturday, holding a 96-86 lead entering the fourth quarter. However, the home squad's shots kept falling in the final period, while the Hornets' offense failed them at the wrong time.
Ball having to deal with foul trouble definitely factored into the loss, as Philadelphia managed to trim a 114-105 deficit into just one point in the 2:16 span that the star had to head to the bench after picking up his fifth foul late in the fourth. The Sixers eventually escaped with a 125-121 win to extend their dominance over the Hornets, which began in 2022.
Despite the loss, Ball's impressive all-around game is hard to ignore. He finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, even putting up a stellar defensive effort that saw him net three steals and a block. It's also worth mentioning that the Hornets outscored Philly by 12 points when he was on the floor. Perhaps if he had been able to control his fouls, which were already a major issue last season, the outcome may have been different.
Hornets' road trip isn't off to a great start
It's too early to overreact to a single match, especially this early on in the campaign. However, the Hornets had a grand opportunity to do something they have not done before: kick off a regular season with a record better than 3-0. Naturally, that isn't possible anymore, though they still have a chance to finish their three-game road trip with a 2-1 record, that is, if they beat the Washington Wizards and Miami Heat over the next three days.
That would be easier said than done, as it's unclear if Charlotte can get back Brandon Miller soon. The rising star injured his left shoulder during the second quarter of its Sixers tiff, and the Hornets world is still waiting for further updates from the club. The silver lining is that he didn't seem to hurt his right wrist.
Maybe Ball can replicate, or even improve on, his performance on Saturday if they have to play without Miller in the coming days. The roster also has several players who can step up in the swingman's potential absence, although it would be better for the franchise if neither Ball nor Miller has to be sidelined by injury.