The Charlotte Hornets are near the bottom of the standings, and things are getting even more difficult without the services of their star guard LaMelo Ball. Ball has missed the Hornets’ last two games due to a sprained ankle and is questionable to play against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night. Despite a rash of injuries on the Suns, they have a .500 record and are in 7th place in the Western Conference. Phoenix is on a 3-game win streak that includes victory in their last matchup in which Chris Paul returned from a right foot issue and played 38 minutes. Paul won’t be joined by stars Deandre Ayton or Devin Booker who are still sidelined, but bettors should continue to monitor Ball’s status as it is likely to impact the spread, total and prop markets as the game approaches.
The Hornets and Suns are scheduled to tip off at 9 p.m. ET. That means NBA DFS may not get an update until close to lock, if not after. Those looking for an edge should heed this advice or check out the OddsShopper tools for sharp NBA bets. Bettors can also try out a one-week free trial of NBA Bet Pro to access cutting-edge player projections that will update once the Hornets announce Ball’s official status.
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LaMelo Ball Injury Update – NBA Betting Impact
Ball and the Hornets have had a tough season, but that hasn’t stopped the third year pro from putting up strong numbers across the board. He is career highs of 23.5 points per game and 8.2 assists per game. Ball is chipping in 5.2 rebounds per game and is averaging just over one steal in each contest. The issue for Charlotte has been the degree to which Ball has had to shoulder the load with the rest of the team underperforming. Still, his presence in the lineup should pique bettors interest in prop markets, and his ability to score in bunches helps the Hornets keep up with any team.
If Ball is absent it will leave a large usage gap on the Hornets roster and elevated minutes for backup guards like Dennis Smith Jr. Sportsbooks are currently holding off on many Charlotte Hornets prop bets, but once Ball’s status is known there will be opportunity to find value by examining how the rest of the lineup fills the void. The slack was picked up last night by Terry Rozier and Mason Plumlee, who posted eighteen points and dished out five assists from the Center position.
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The Hornets will benefit from the absence of Ayton and Booker for the Suns. If LaMelo does go, the spread could come down slightly from the current 6.5 point line.
Hornets-Suns NBA Betting & DFS Advice
If Ball plays, Stokastic’s NBA DFS projections have him racking up 42.69 fantasy points at $9,800 salary on DraftKings. He is projected for 40.67 points at $9,200 salary on FanDuel. The clearest fantasy beneficiary if Ball is out will be Dennis Smith Jr. Smith currently projects for 20.46 fantasy points on DraftKings and 21.23 on FanDuel. Those projections will increase starkly if Ball is ruled out, making Smith one of the best value plays at the guard spot on Tuesday’s slate.
The Phoenix Suns are a 6.5-point favorite at both DraftKings and FanDuel. Pinnacle, a sharp sportsbook, also has this game at that number — although they have the juice slanted slightly in Charlotte’s favor. When Ball’s status is finalized this line should move in one direction or another.
Bettors that like the Hornets side and think Ball will play should check out those odds on DraftKings or FanDuel before the news breaks. Getting the Hornets at 6.5 prior to them moving to 6 o5 5.5 and locking in that closing-line value (CLV) is a huge long-term edge. Those new to DraftKings can earn $200 in bonus bets with a $5 wager. Bettors in Ohio can score the same deal but via this link instead!
The legal gambling age is 21+ in most states. Gambling Problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.
