“I’ve got a rhythm now,” says the resurrected Lamello Ball

Ball washes away recent slump with 30-point triple-double.

The Charlotte Hornets lost 119-124 to the Dallas Mavericks in a 2023-2024 NBA regular-season game at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday. It was a tough loss. However, ace LaMelo Ball (201 cm, G) had his best game of the season.

Ball is clearly Charlotte’s ace in the hole. He burst onto the scene in his rookie season, averaging 15.7 points, 6.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds. In his second year, he averaged 20.1 points, 7.6 assists, and 6.7 rebounds and was named an All-Star for the first time in his career. But in his third year, injuries limited him to 36 games. Charlotte needed Ball’s play to go higher.

But Ball started the season very poorly. In the first five games, he averaged 14.6 points, 8.6 assists, and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 29% from the field. Still, Charlotte won two of four.

But Ball bounced back with a 30-point, 13-assist, 10-rebound performance against Dallas. It’s a reason for Charlotte to smile despite the loss.

Ball’s start to the game was a bit shaky. She missed all three of her first-quarter shots. She was more aggressive in the second quarter, but her shot wasn’t responding. As a result, she only made one of her six shots in the first half. He did, however, lead the team’s offense with 11 assists and five rebounds.

Ball’s shooting continued to miss the rim in the third quarter. Only two of her eight shots hit the rim. But in the fourth quarter, Ball was a different story. He made 8 of 9 shots. It was a completely different story with five of the six three-pointers they attempted. This helped Charlotte keep Dallas in the game until the end.

Despite the loss, Charlotte head coach Steve Clifford was happy to be interviewed after the game. He told Clutch Point, “It was an unfortunate loss. But the ball came alive. He had a great game. I think he’s found his rhythm again. The key is to keep that rhythm going.” 보스토토

The loss to Dallas dropped Charlotte to 10th in the East. The team will have a day off before hosting the last-place Washington Wizards on Dec. 8. Can Ball replicate this performance against Washington? Ball’s performance will be crucial for Charlotte to climb higher.