Is LaMelo Ball playing tonight vs the Cleveland Cavaliers? Latest update on the Charlotte Hornets star’s injury report (January 21, 2026) | NBA News
LaMelo Ball is expected to play tonight when the Charlotte Hornets face the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 21, 2026. He is not listed on Charlotte’s official injury report, which means there are no restrictions anticipated for his minutes or workload.Charlotte needs him on the floor. With the team sitting at 16–27 and dealing with limited scoring options, Ball remains the clear focal point of the offense. Cleveland arrives as the favorite, but injuries have narrowed the gap more than the odds suggest.
LaMelo Ball Injury Report vs Cleveland Cavaliers (January 21, 2026)
LaMelo Ball has been on the floor consistently lately, suiting up for 14 straight games after a stop-start beginning to the season. There are no injury concerns heading into this one, and nothing suggests any limits on his workload. He’s expected to run the offense as usual and carry his normal share of the scoring responsibility.Charlotte’s offense depends on Ball to set the pace, generate clean looks, and take pressure off younger rotation players.
Game Setup in Charlotte
The Charlotte Hornets host the Cleveland Cavaliers at Spectrum Center for their third meeting of the season. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET.Cleveland remains the stronger team on paper, but missing key backcourt players changes the matchup. Charlotte, playing at home, will look to take advantage of those gaps, especially on the perimeter.
LaMelo Ball’s Recent Play and Production
Ball has been productive since returning to a steady rhythm. Over his last 14 games, he is averaging 20.9 points, 6.8 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals. His outside shooting has stood out, with 3.7 made three-pointers per game over his last 10 outings.That shooting volume has driven expectations that he will again be Charlotte’s leading scorer. In the teams’ previous matchup on December 23, Ball finished with 23 points.
Injury Situation for Both Teams (January 21, 2026)
Charlotte Hornets enter the game without any backcourt absences tied to Ball. The Cavaliers, however, will be missing several rotation players, which shifts more responsibility onto their remaining starters, particularly Donovan Mitchell.
| Team | Key Absences | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Team | Key Absenves | |
| Hornets | Mason Plumlee (Out), PJ Hall (Out), Liam McNeeley (Out) | No effect on Ball’s role |
| Cavaliers | Darius Garland (Out), Max Strus (Out), Sam Merrill (Out) | Increased offensive load on Mitchell (29 PPG) |
What to Watch in Tonight’s Cleveland Cavaliers vs Charlotte Hornets Game
With Cleveland missing key pieces and Charlotte putting the ball in his hands, the game is likely to flow through Ball. If he sets the pace and keeps making shots, the Hornets should be able to hang around and keep it close late.
