Yahoo Sports - Your Ultimate Source for Sports News and Highlights

The Charlotte Hornets announced on Saturday that LaMelo Ball, who has been lighting up the scoreboard this season, will be sidelined for the next two weeks due to a strained left calf.

Ball, 23, missed Friday's 99-98 loss to the New York Knicks as the Hornets were eliminated from group play in the NBA Cup tournament. He was listed on the injury report as out due to illness, but he was hurt more seriously. Ball suffered the injury during the fourth quarter of Wednesday's loss to the Miami Heat.

Over his past four games, Ball had averaged 40 points, including a 50-point effort last Saturday against the Milwaukee Bucks. For the season, he's averaging 31.1 points per game, behind only Giannis Antetokounmpo among the NBA scoring leaders.

LaMelo steps back for his 3rd 3PM of the 1Q

MIA-CHA | NBA League Pass
https://t.co/x7NkVpQiOu pic.twitter.com/Ze00pDPvTC

— NBA (@NBA) November 28, 2024

However, Ball's scoring hasn't helped the Hornets win games. Charlotte has lost four straight and eight of its past 10 going into Saturday's matchup with the Atlanta Hawks. At 6-13, the Hornets are 12th in the Eastern Conference and fourth in the Southeast Division.

Injuries have been an issue throughout Ball's career. Since playing 75 games in his second year, Ball has appeared in a total of 76 games during the past three seasons. Last season, he played in only 22 games after having surgery on his right ankle and struggling with continued soreness afterward. Ankle injuries limited him to 36 games during the 2022-23 campaign.

Charlotte lost forward Grant Williams for the season with a torn ACL last week. Centers Mark Williams (foot strain) and Nick Richards (fractured rib) haven't been available, and Miles Bridges missed two weeks with a bone bruise in his right knee. Yet Ball's injury will be the most impactful, considering how well he's been playing.