Woj: Hornets' LaMelo Ball Expected to Return from Ankle Injury vs. Spurs

Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball is expected to return from his ankle injury for Friday's game against the San Antonio Spurs after missing more than a month of play, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Wojnarowski added that Ball participated in Friday morning's shootaround.

This comes after The Athletic and Stadium's Shams Charania noted on Thursday that Ball could potentially return on Friday after being listed as questionable.

Ball, who has been out since Nov. 26 with a sprained ankle, has been upgraded to questionable for the Hornets' matchup with the Spurs. Ball has played in just 15 games this season, averaging 24.7 points, 8.2 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game, along with 1.4 steals per game.

The Hornets are desperate for a surge, and the potential return of their star point guard could be what they need. Charlotte is 8-27 this season, sitting in 13th place in the Eastern Conference.

Ball was beginning to heat up right before his injury. In the four games before he sprained his ankle, Ball scored 37, 34, 36 and 34 points, respectively, and he'll be looking to continue where he left off when he returns.

In his absence, Terry Rozier has stepped up for Charlotte to try to match Ball's offensive production. Rozier is averaging 24.3 points and 7.0 assists per game. If Ball is able to make a return and continue his hot scoring, the combination of him and Rozier in the backcourt could bode well for the Hornets.

The Hornets need a boost as the halfway point in the season approaches. Charlotte currently ranks 26th in offensive rating and 29th in defensive rating. Getting Ball back on the court might not fix those percentages overnight, but his return could certainly help the Hornets make a push to try to get back in the playoff picture. They currently sit 6.5 games out of 10th place.

The last two seasons for Ball have been marred by injury, but he'll be looking to make up for lost time if he can get back on the floor on Friday as expected.