The Charlotte Hornets notched a 111-86 road win against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night to end a two-game skid. But it came at a high cost, as LaMelo Ball left the game with an ankle injury.
Ball hurt his foot while guarding Jamal Shead in transition during the third period and never came back. The one-time NBA All-Star finished with 11 points, two rebounds, and three assists on 4-for-9 shooting from the field in 12 minutes of action.
“Just control what we can control,” Miles Bridges said of Ball’s injury via Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer. “Injuries happen — to us a lot. We’ve just got to stay level-headed and lift the guys up who do get injured, because nobody wants to get injured. So, that’s all we got to do is have the next-man-up mentality.”
“Definitely hate to see it,” Brandon Miller continued. “I think the next man has to be prepared and ready to go at any point.”
Charlotte Hornets News: Brandon Miller makes triumphant return after injury layoff
Brandon Miller returned from a two-game absence on Friday after recovering from a shoulder injury, and the third-year pro picked up where he left off with 12 points and three rebounds on 5-for-14 shooting in 30 minutes of action.
“Yeah, it’s always great when you can add a player of Brandon’s caliber,” head coach Charles Lee said. “I think that his overall just competitiveness, his overall talent, athleticism, and length, it helps you defensively, his activity. I mean, he’s kind of all over the place.”
“I feel good, just to come out there and compete again with my guys,” Miller stated. “And then even better, we got the win against a good team at their house. So, all I can ask for is just everybody go out there and just compete at the highest level.”
