LaMelo Ball leaves game against Pelicans briefly, returns after collision with coach
February 2, 2026
Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball was injured in the first quarter of Monday’s game against the New Orleans Hornets and briefly taken to the locker room after a head-to-head collision with coach Charles Lee. Ball returned to the game later in the first quarter with what the team described as a laceration over his eye. Ball was attempting to save an errant pass from Miles Bridges near the Hornets bench. But as the ball was heading out of bounds, Lee bent down to grab it, unaware of Ball coming in from his right side trying to save it from going out of bounds. The coach and player banged heads and Ball went down.