Lonzo Ball Injury News & Updates

Ball (illness) is out for Monday's game against the Pacers.

Ball is joining Darius Garland (toe) as a spectator Monday. Wednesday's game against Portland marks the veteran guard's next chance to return. Jaylon Tyson remains worth streaming in all fantasy formats against Indiana.

Ball (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Celtics.

Ball will sit out the front end of Cleveland's back-to-back set, though he can be considered probable for Monday's game against Indiana. With the 28-year-old point guard and Sam Merrill (hand) sidelined, Tyrese Proctor and Jaylon Tyson are candidates for increased minutes, especially if Craig Porter (hamstring) is downgraded from questionable to out.

Ball will return to the bench for Friday's game in Atlanta.

Darius Garland is back from a rest day and starting, so Ball's upside will take a significant hit with the return to the second unit. As a member of the reserves this season, Ball has registered averages of 5.0 points, 4.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game on 29/26/56 shooting splits.

Ball posted eight points (3-15 FG, 2-12 3Pt), seven assists, seven rebounds, two steals and one block over 34 minutes during Cleveland's 110-99 loss to Toronto on Monday.

Ball drew his third start of the season Monday due to the absence of Darius Garland (toe). Ball was inefficient from the field, but he was able to contribute in other ways and finished second and third on the Cavaliers in assists and rebounds, respectively. The Cavaliers don't play their next game until Friday against the Hawks, and Ball will likely revert to a bench role for that game assuming Garland is cleared to return.

Ball will start Monday's game against the Raptors, Serena Winters of FanDuel Sports Network Ohio reports.

With Darius Garland (toe) sitting out the second leg of Cleveland's back-to-back set, Ball will get the starting nod Monday. In his previous two starts this season, the 28-year-old point guard averaged 11.5 points, 6.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 23.0 minutes per contest.

Ball (rest) is available for Monday's game against the Raptors.

After sitting out the first leg of this back-to-back set, Ball will be back in the mix Monday night. He may see increased usage as well, as the Cavaliers are resting Darius Garland and several others.

Ball (injury management) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Clippers.

Ball will sit out the first night of the Cavaliers' back-to-back set due to left knee injury management, and his next opportunity to play will come Monday against the Raptors. With the 28-year-old point guard joining Sam Merrill (hand) and Craig Porter (hamstring) on the sidelines, Jaylon Tyson and Tyrese Proctor are candidates for an uptick in playing time.

Ball (injury management) is off the injury report for Saturday's game against the Grizzlies.

Ball got the night off Thursday during the second end of a back-to-back set -- a regular occurrence for the 28-year-old guard -- but he'll be back for Saturday's contest. With Darius Garland (toe) and Jaylon Tyson (concussion) sidelined, Ball should see a larger role against Memphis.

Ball (injury management) won't play Thursday against the Raptors.

Ball has yet to be cleared for back-to-back sets, so this is an expected update. He fared well Wednesday night against the Heat, producing 15 points (4-8 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 3-3 FT), two rebounds, eight assists, one block and one steal in 20 minutes. Tyrese Proctor and Craig Porter could pick up some run in Ball's absence Thursday.

Ball notched 15 points (4-8 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 3-3 FT), two rebounds, eight assists, one block and one steal in 20 minutes during Wednesday's 130-116 win over the Heat.

Ball got the start due to the absences of Darius Garland (toe) and Donovan Mitchell (rest), and he delivered a well-rounded performance while ending just two assists away from a double-double. Ball should return to the bench if Mitchell moves back into the lineup Thursday against the Raptors in the second leg of this back-to-back set, but he might still have some upside as long as his minutes continue to hover around the 20-25 range.

Ball is in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game in Miami.

With both Darius Garland (toe) and Donovan Mitchell (rest) unavailable for Wednesday's game, Ball will draw the start, and he'll be joined by Sam Merrill, Dean Wade, De'Andre Hunter and Jarrett Allen in the first unit. Ball has struggled to make an impact this season, so it'll be interesting to see what he can do in a starting role with little depth behind him.

Ball contributed nine points (3-7 FG, 3-7 3Pt), four rebounds, two assists and one steal in 20 minutes during Monday's 140-138 overtime defeat to the Heat.

Ball saw a season-low in minutes in this one, despite the game going to overtime and Darius Garland exiting early after aggravating his toe injury, so it doesn't look like his role will change much with Garland going down again. Ball has been disappointing this season, averaging 5.1 points and 5.1 assists in 23.4 minutes per game, which has him ranked well outside the top-200 in fantasy leagues.

Ball (knee) has been cleared to play in Saturday's game against the Bulls.

After missing Friday's game due to a knee issue, Ball will return to action. The veteran guard is currently averaging 5.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.0 steals per game, shooting 29.3 percent from the floor and 25.8 percent from three-point range.

Ball (knee) is out for Friday's game against Washington.

The Cavaliers will hold Ball out of action for left knee injury management. The veteran floor general figures to be back in the lineup for the second half of a back-to-back game Saturday against the Bulls. With Ball sitting out Friday, the door is open for Craig Porter to handle the backup role at point guard.

Ball is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Hawks.

Ball made his first start as a Cavalier on Friday and performed well, but he'll shift back to the bench with Donovan Mitchell (hamstring) returning from a one-game absence. The UCLA product should still play plenty off the bench, having logged at least 22 minutes in all five of his appearances this season.

Ball tallied eight points (3-7 FG, 2-4 3Pt), five assists, five rebounds and one steal over 26 minutes during Cleveland's 112-101 loss to Toronto on Friday.

Ball made his first start of the regular season Friday due to the absences of Donovan Mitchell (hamstring), Darius Garland (toe) and Sam Merrill (hip). Ball scored all eight of his points in the third quarter as he took a back seat offensively to Evan Mobley (29 points), De'Andre Hunter (26) and Jaylon Tyson (18). While Ball isn't known for his scoring, he has registered at least five assists in each of his five outings this season. He would likely return to the bench if Mitchell and Garland were to return Sunday against the Hawks.

Ball will start in Friday's game against the Raptors, Serena Winters of FanDuel Sports Network Ohio reports.

With Donovan Mitchell (hamstring), Darius Garland (toe) and Sam Merrill (hip) all sidelined, Ball will get the starting nod for the first time this season. The Cavaliers have been cautious with the 28-year-old point guard's minutes due to his extensive injury history, so he's unlikely to see a significant uptick in playing time. Over four regular-season games, Ball has averaged 4.8 points, 6.0 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game.

Ball (injury management) is off the Cavaliers' injury report for Wednesday's game against the Celtics.

Ball sat out Monday's win over Detroit -- the second game of a back-to-back set -- but is set to return to action against Boston. Through three regular-season appearances, the 28-year-old guard is averaging 5.3 points, 6.3 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 23.0 minutes per game.

Ball (injury management) will not play Monday against the Pistons.

Monday's game is the second leg of a back-to-back set, and Ball has not been cleared to play in both games of these. That's likely to remain the case indefinitely. Ball looked sharp Sunday, as he produced 11 points (4-7 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 1-3 FT), six rebounds, five assists and one steal over 23 minutes during the 118-113 win over the Bucks.

Ball chipped in 11 points (4-7 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 1-3 FT), six rebounds, five assists and one steal over 23 minutes during Sunday's 118-113 win over the Bucks.

For the third game in a row, Ball saw a workload of 23 minutes, and that's a few minutes more than what coach Kenny Atkinson mentioned he would like the guard to play prior to Opening Night. Sunday was Ball's best performance by far, but he's shooting 27.8 percent from the field through three games which suggests he's due for some positive regression with his jumper.

Ball scored three points (1-7 FG, 1-7 3Pt) and added four rebounds and six assists over 23 minutes in Wednesday's 119-111 loss to the Knicks.

Ball came off the bench and ended up leading the team in assists, but him turning the ball over four times was a little concerning. Despite Darius Garland (toe) out to start the regular season, it appears the Cavs rolled with Donovan Mitchell and Sam Merrill as the team's primary backcourt, with Ball serving as the main facilitator among the second unit.

Ball (rest) posted nine points (5-10 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 3-4 FT), nine assists, four rebounds and three blocks across 20 minutes in Tuesday's 118-100 preseason win over Detroit.

Ball returned to action after sitting out Sunday's loss to the Celtics due to rest purposes. The 27-year-old guard led all players in assists and tied the game-high mark in blocks Tuesday. Ball is expected to be limited to 20 minutes per contest to begin the regular season and won't appear in both games of back-to-back sets.

Ball (rest) did not suit up for Sunday's preseason loss to the Celtics.

Kenny Atkinson decided to give some of his veterans Sunday off for rest purposes, but Ball should return to the active roster for Tuesday's exhibition with the Pistons.

Ball finished scoreless (0-4 FG, 0-3 3Pt) with one assist in 12 minutes in Tuesday's 118-117 preseason loss to the Bulls.

Ball came off the bench Tuesday with Donovan Mitchell running the point. Ball has said that he's going to be limited to around 20 minutes per night to open the season and that he won't play in both games of back-to-back sets, so his fantasy upside is going to be held in check even in the absence of Darius Garland (toe).

Ball will come off the bench in Tuesday's preseason game against the Bulls, Spencer Davies of SI.com reports.

Despite Darius Garland (toe) and Sam Merrill (undisclosed) being sidelined, Ball will join the second unit in Cleveland's preseason opener against his former team. The 27-year-old point guard is expected to be limited to around 20 minutes per contest to begin the regular season and won't appear in both games of back-to-back sets.

Ball said Monday that he's expecting to see about 20 minutes per night to open the season, according to Cavaliers reporter Danny.

Additionally, Ball said that playing in both games of back-to-back sets will be "off the table" to begin the season. This makes a lot of sense given Ball's injury history. Ball is expected to start on Opening Night in the absence of Darius Garland (toe), but expectations as fas as fantasy impact goes should be tempered.

Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said Tuesday that Ball (wrist) "looked great" at a workout Monday, Danny Cunningham reports.

Ball missed Chicago's final 22 regular-season games due to a sprained right wrist, but he was reportedly good to go for the majority of the offseason. Atkinson raved about Cleveland's decision to trade for Ball this summer, but he said the team will need to have a plan in place to make sure he's healthy for the playoffs. As things currently stand, Ball could be the starting point guard for Opening Night with Darius Garland (toe) sidelined for the start of the season.

The Bulls traded Ball (wrist) to the Cavaliers in exchange for Isaac Okoro on Saturday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

Ball will join the Cavaliers and presumably provide a spark off the bench next season. The 27-year-old guard was traded to the Bulls in August 2021 but missed significant time while recovering from three surgeries on his left knee. Ball returned to game action last year after being sidelined during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns, though he appeared in just 35 regular-season outings, averaging 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists across 22.2 minutes per game. He missed Chicago's final 22 regular-season games due to a sprained right wrist, though he's expected to have a normal offseason ahead of the 2025-26 season, according to K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network.

Head coach Billy Donovan said Sunday that Ball (wrist) will resume basketball activities Monday but is unlikely to be available for Wednesday's Play-In Tournament meeting with the Heat, K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network reports.

Ball has not played since Feb. 28 due to a sprained right wrist, and Sunday's game marks the 22nd straight game he'll miss as a result. His return to basketball activities is a sign that he is progressing in his recovery, and while he doesn't appear to be available for the Play-In Tournament, the hope is that he can play in the first round of the playoffs if the Bulls advance that far.

Ball (wrist) is out for Sunday's game versus the 76ers.

Ball's absence streak will extend to 22 games Sunday due to a sprained right wrist. Ball's next chance to suit up is Wednesday's Play-In game against Miami.

Ball (wrist) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Wizards.

Ball will miss a 21st straight game for the Bulls due to a right wrist sprain. The next opportunity for the veteran guard to return to the floor will be Sunday against the 76ers.

Ball (wrist) will not play Wednesday against the Heat.

Ball, who hasn't seen any NBA action since Feb. 28, has just two chances to return to the floor before the end of the regular season. There's no guarantee he gets the green light for either of those, however.

Ball (wrist) will not play Tuesday against the Cavaliers.

Ball hasn't seen any NBA action since Feb. 28, but recent reports have indicated that he's close to a return. It remains to be seen if he'll be available to play Wednesday against the Heat for the second leg of this back-to-back set.

Ball (wrist) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Hornets.

Ball hasn't played since Feb. 28 but is nearing a return to game action. That won't happen Sunday, but the veteran guard will have another chance to suit up Tuesday in Cleveland. In his absence, Talen Horton-Tucker should stick in the rotation.

Ball (wrist) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game versus the Hornets.

Ball hasn't played since Feb. 28 due to a right wrist sprain. However, Ball has been participating in shootaround and appears to be nearing a return to action.

Ball (wrist) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Trail Blazers, Chuck Swirsky of the Bulls Radio Network reports.

Ball will miss his 17th straight outing due to a sprained right wrist. However, the 27-year-old was a full participant during Friday's practice, which suggests that he's nearing a return to game action. Ball's next chance to suit up will come Sunday against the Hornets.

Ball (wrist) particiapted fully in shootaround ahead of Friday's game versus the Trail Blazers and is trending toward making a return to action, K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network reports.

Ball is officially listed as questionable for Friday's contest after missing Chicago's previous 16 outings due to a wrist injury. While Ball is trending toward a return to action against Portland, he will operate on a minutes restriction if he's officially upgraded to available.

Ball (wrist) has been listed as questionable for Friday's game against the Trail Blazers.

Ball has missed the last 16 games for the Bulls while dealing with a sprained right wrist. The veteran guard has a chance to play in Friday's game against Portland, but if he cannot play, Chicago will likely continue to lean on Kevin Huerter to help shoulder the load in the backcourt behind Josh Giddey and Coby White.

Ball (wrist) has been ruled out for Tuesday's game against the Raptors.

Ball will miss his 16th consecutive contest due to a sprained right wrist. There's no clear timetable for the 27-year-old's return to game action, though his next chance to suit up will come Friday against Portland.

Ball (wrist) is doubtful for Tuesday's game against the Raptors.

Ball appears likely to be sidelined for his 16th game in a row. If Ball does sit out, his next chance to play will be Friday against Portland.

Ball (wrist) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Thunder.

Ball's absence streak will extend to 15 games due to a sprained right wrist. His next chance to suit up will come Tuesday against the Raptors.

Ball (wrist) is listed as doubtful for Monday's game against Oklahoma City.

Ball is expected to miss his 15th consecutive contest due to a sprained right wrist. The 27-year-old was listed as questionable before being ruled out of Thursday's win over the Lakers, so the doubtful tag bodes poorly for his progress.

Ball (wrist) won't play Saturday against Dallas.

Ball has been out of action since Feb. 28 due to a right wrist sprain, and he'll miss his 15th game in a row Saturday. His next chance to play comes Monday against the Thunder.

Ball (wrist) is listed as doubtful for Saturday's game against Dallas.

Ball has been out of action since Feb. 28 due to a right wrist sprain. He looks to be on track to miss a 14th consecutive game, and if he's ruled out for Saturday's contest, his next chance to take the floor is Monday against Oklahoma City.

Ball (wrist) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Lakers.

Ball will miss his 13th consecutive contest due to a sprained right wrist. However, the 27-year-old combo guard is expected to return during the club's two-game homestand, per Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, meaning there's a good chance that he suits up during Saturday's game against Dallas.

Ball (wrist) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Lakers.

Ball is in the final stages of his recovery from a right wrist sprain that has kept him sidelined for all of March, and Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reported Monday that Ball will likely return at some point during the Bulls' upcoming two-game homestand. If Ball doesn't come back Thursday, then his next chance to do so will be Saturday against the Mavericks. Ball's return would impact the playing time of Kevin Huerter, Dalen Terry and Jevon Carter.

Ball (wrist), who has already been ruled out for Monday's game against Denver, is almost pain-free and will likely return to game action during the club's upcoming two-game homestand that starts Thursday against the Lakers, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Ball went through a solid workout in Chicago on Monday, and he is seemingly nearing a return following a multi-week absence due to a sprained right wrist. While Cowley's report is promising news, the 27-year-old combo guard will likely still face restrictions whenever he returns. Over his last 10 appearances, Ball has averaged 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists across 25.9 minutes per game.

Ball (wrist) is still aiming for a return to the floor for the Bulls next week in Chicago, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

After Saturday's game against the Lakers, Ball will have missed 11th straight games for the Bulls. However, the veteran guard seems to be nearing his return. In the meantime, Chicago will continue to lean on Josh Giddey, Kevin Huerter and Coby White in the backcourt.

Ball (wrist) has started to shoot with his injured wrist but is still ways away from returning to action, K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network reports.

Ball is still in Chicago, and even though he has started to shoot with his injured right wrist, according to head coach Billy Donovan, he still faces a long road to return to the hardwood. Ball hasn't been shut down for the rest of the season yet, but a decision on his status will be made in the coming weeks as he continues to work his way back.

Head coach Billy Donovan told reporters Saturday that Ball's recovery from a wrist injury is not going well but has not shut him down for the remainder of the season, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Ball is not with the team during its road trip while working on his conditioning as he recovers from a right wrist sprain that has kept him out of action since March 2. It's possible Ball returns for the final games of the regular season, but he'll need to show more progress in his recovery before being given the green light. With Ball and Josh Giddey (ankle) both sidelined, Coby White and Tre Jones should handle most of the ball handling duties for the Bulls in the short term.

Ball (wrist) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against Houston.

Ball will miss his seventh consecutive contest due to a right wrist sprain. His next opportunity to play will come Monday against the Jazz. Tre Jones and Kevin Huerter will likely continue to see an uptick in playing time due to Ball being sidelined.

Ball (wrist) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Nets.

Ball carried a doubtful tagging throughout the day, so this update is no big surprise. He's set to miss his sixth straight matchup due to a right wrist sprain.

Ball (wrist) has been listed as doubtful for Thursday's game against the Nets.

Ball is trending toward missing a sixth straight game for the Bulls while nursing a sprained right wrist. If ruled out Thursday, the veteran guard's next opportunity to suit up will be Saturday against the Rockets.

Ball (wrist) is out for Monday's game against Indiana.

Ball didn't recover in time for this contest and will be sidelined due to a nagging wrist problem. His next chance to play will come against the Nets on Thursday.

Ball (wrist) is listed as doubtful for Monday's game against Indiana.

Ball is expected to miss his fifth consecutive contest due to a right wrist sprain. If the combo guard remains sidelined, Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter and Talen Horton-Tucker are candidates for an uptick in playing time.

Ball (wrist) has been listed as doubtful for Saturday's game against the Heat.

Ball is trending toward missing a fourth straight game for the Bulls while nursing a sprained right wrist. Chicago will likely continue to lean on Tre Jones and Dalen Terry to pick up the slack in the backcourt.

Ball (wrist) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Magic,

Ball will miss a third straight game for the Bulls while nursing a sprained right wrist. Tre Jones and Dalen Terry are candidates for more minutes in the backcourt in Orlando.

Ball (wrist) is questionable for Thursday's game against Orlando.

Ball has missed the past two games for Chicago, but the guard remains day-to-day. Josh Giddey (quadriceps) is also questionable for Chicago, as well as Kevin Huerter (knee). If the Bulls are shorthanded in the backcourt again, guys like Tre Jones and Dalen Terry could continue to see expanded roles.

Ball (wrist) has been ruled out for Tuesday's game against the Cavaliers, K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network reports.

Ball will miss a second straight game for the Bulls as he deals with a sprained right wrist. Chicago will likely lean on Coby White, Matas Buzelis, Dalen Terry and Tre Jones to help shoulder the load in the backcourt, especially with Josh Giddey (quad) and Kevin Huerter (knee) also ruled out for this game against Cleveland.

Ball is questionable for Tuesday's game against Cleveland due to a right wrist sprain.

Ball didn't play in Sunday's loss to Indiana due to the issue, and his status remains uncertain for Tuesday. If the veteran guard cannot suit up against the Cavaliers, more playing time would be available to Matas Buzelis, Dalen Terry and Tre Jones.

Head coach Billy Donovan said that Ball (wrist) won't play in Sunday's game against Indiana, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star reports.

Ball was downgraded from probable to questionable before having been ruled out due to the sprained right wrist. His next chance to play will come Tuesday against Cleveland. With the 27-year-old and Kevin Huerter (knee) both on the shelf, Tre Jones, Dalen Terry and Jevon Carter are candidates for an uptick in minutes.

Ball (wrist) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Indiana.

Ball has been downgraded from probable to questionable Sunday due to a right wrist sprain. The 27-year-old has started in each of the club's last five outings, during which he has averaged 10.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists across 25.8 minutes per game. If Ball is sidelined Sunday, Tre Jones and Kevin Huerter (knee) could see a bump in minutes.

Ball (wrist) has been listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Pacers.

Ball is dealing with a right wrist injury but is trending toward playing Sunday in Indiana. The veteran guard has dealt with his fair share of injuries over the years. However, he has started to get back on track physically as of late, playing and starting in the last five games for Chicago.

Ball (head) is not listed on the injury report for Wednesday's game against the Clippers.

Ball suffered a head laceration in Monday's win over Philadelphia, but he's set to be available for the Bulls on Wednesday. Over his last eight appearances (all starts), the veteran guard is averaging 9.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.1 three-pointers in 24.6 minutes.

Ball will not return to Monday's game against the 76ers due to a head laceration, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Ball posted six points (2-2 FG, 2-2 3Pt), two rebounds and one assist across eight minutes before checking out of the game with 5:55 remaining in the second quarter. With the 27-year-old sidelined, Kevin Huerter and Talen Horton-Tucker could see an uptick in playing time the rest of the way.

Ball (undisclosed) exited to the locker room with 5:55 remaining in the second quarter of Monday's game against Philadelphia, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Ball went back to the locker room with the training staff under his own power, and he can be considered questionable to return until the team provides another update. If the point guard is unable to return, Talen Horton-Tucker and Kevin Huerter are candidates for an uptick in playing time.

Ball notched 14 points (4-13 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 3-5 FT), four rebounds and four assists over 30 minutes during Thursday's 113-111 overtime loss to the Knicks.

Ball missed each of the Bulls' last four games before the All-Star break due to an illness, but he started in this one and posted a decent stat line despite his shooting woes. Ball has started in each of his last nine appearances and is likely to remain in that role following the roster moves Chicago has made in recent weeks. He's averaging 9.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.3 blocks per game in that stretch.

Ball (illness) will be available for Thursday's game against the Knicks.

Ball was a full participant at Wednesday's practice after missing the final three games before the All-Star break. He's no longer dealing with an illness and did not show up on the official injury report. In 30 regular-season appearances, Ball has averaged 7.2 points, 3.5 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals.

Ball (illness) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Pistons, Will Gottlieb of AllCHGO.com reports.

Ball missed last Wednesday's game, the second night of a back-to-back set, due to injury management of his left knee, but then he got sick and will miss his third straight game due to an illness Wednesday. The veteran point guard should be fine when the Bulls return to action Feb. 20 in New York.

Ball (illness) is doubtful for Wednesday's game against the Pistons.

Ball missed last Wednesday's game, the second night of a back-to-back set, due to injury management of his left knee, but then he got sick and missed the next two games, including the first half of Chicago's current back-to-back. Ball will likely remain sidelined Wednesday, Chicago's final game before the All-Star break, but he should be fine when the Bulls return to action Feb. 20 in New York.

Ball (illness) has been ruled out for Tuesday's game against Detroit.

Ball will miss his third consecutive contest Tuesday due to an illness. His next chance to play will come in the second leg of the club's back-to-back set against Detroit on Wednesday. With the 27-year-old guard sidelined, Tre Jones and Talen Horton-Tucker could see a bump in playing time.

Ball (illness) is not expected to play Tuesday against the Pistons, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Ball appears likely to miss a third straight game and was unable to practice Monday. He doesn't play in both games of back-to-back sets anyways, so he'll have an extra day to recover to potentially suit up in a rematch versus Detroit on Wednesday.

Ball (illness) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Warriors, Cody Westerlund of 670TheScore.com reports.

After missing Wednesday's loss to the Timberwolves, Ball will miss a second straight game for Chicago as he battles an illness. The veteran guard had started eight games in a row for the Bulls, averaging 9.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game, shooting 33.8 percent from the floor and 32.7 percent from beyond the arc. The team will likely continue to Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu to help shoulder the load in the backcourt, with the 27-year-old needing more time to get back on the floor.

Ball (illness) has been listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the Warriors.

Ball missed Wednesday's loss to the Timberwolves and could miss a second straight game while battling an illness. The veteran guard recently secured his future beyond this season with the Bulls, inking a two-year contract extension with the team. The 27-year-old is averaging career-low numbers across the board but has shown flashes during the 2024-25 campaign, convincing the team he was worth committing to for the next two seasons.

Ball (knee) didn't participate in Friday's practice due to an illness, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Ball missed Chicago's previous contest due to left knee management due to it being a back-to-back. However, it now appears that an illness could cause Ball to sit out Saturday's game, which could pave the way for Kevin Huerter (recently traded), Talen Horton-Tucker (recently traded) and Jevon Carter to receive increased playing time.

Ball has reportedly signed a two-year, $20 million contract extension with the Bulls on Wednesday,Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

Ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline, the Bulls have signed Ball to a two-year contract extension. The veteran guard was thought to be on the trading block but avoided being dealt while securing his future with the team. The 30-year-old is averaging 7.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.4 steals in 21.6 minutes per game for Chicago this season.

Ball (knee) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Timberwolves.

After missing a good portion of the first half of the 2024-25 season for the Bulls, Ball hasn't missed much time recently. However, the veteran point guard will miss Wednesday's game in Minnesota due to injury management of his left knee. This is precautionary because of his injury history and the matchup against the Timberwolves being the second game of a back-to-back for the Bulls. Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu could see more time on the floor due to Ball's absence.

Coach Billy Donovan said Friday that Ball is now up to a 28-minute playing time restriction, Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Ball's season high in minutes is 26, but the 27-year-old guard continues to ramp up toward a full workload after missing two seasons due to knee injuries. With Zach LaVine (personal) out against Toronto, Ball should remain in Chicago's starting lineup.

Ball closed with 18 points (6-10 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds, one block and one steal across 25 minutes during Monday's 129-121 victory over Denver.

Ball played at least 23 minutes for the seventh straight game, hitting four triples en route to a season-high 18 points. While his scoring has been somewhat sporadic, his defensive contributions remain steady, having tallied at least two combined steals and blocks in five of the past six contests.

Ball is starting Monday's game against the Clippers, independent NBA writer Justin Russo reports.

Ball will draw the start at shooting guard due to the absence of Ayo Dosunmu (calf) Monday evening. Ball's last start dates back to Jan. 12 against the Kings when he finished with 15 points, one rebound, three assists and one block across 26 minutes.

Ball (quadriceps) will play Monday night against the Clippers, Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints.com reports.

Ball sat out of Sunday's matchup against Portland due to a right quad issue but feels healthy enough to take the court Monday. He's averaging 9.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.8 steals over his last five appearances.

Ball (knee) is questionable for Monday's game against the Clippers.

After sitting out the first leg of a back-to-back set Sunday against Portland, Ball is apparently not a lock to take the floor Monday. The Bulls are already pretty thin with Coby White (ankle) sidelined, and Ayo Dosunmu (calf) is questionable due to injury management.

Ball (rest) will not play Sunday against Portland.

Sunday's game is the first leg of a back-to-back set, so presumably, Ball will be available for Monday's game against the Clippers. Ayo Dosunmu is likely to see extended minutes Sunday with Ball on the sidelines.

Ball is listed as questionable for Sunday's game versus the Trail Blazers due to right quadricep contusion injury management.

Sunday's contest is the first leg of a back-to-back for Chicago, so it wouldn't be surprising for Ball to sit out. If the 27-year-old guard is ultimately ruled out against Portland, Ayo Dosunmu will likely receive increased playing time.

Ball (knee) isn't on the injury report for Friday's game versus the Hornets.

Ball will return to action Friday after sitting out the second leg of Chicago's back-to-back Wednesday due to left knee injury management. Ball is averaging 7.6 points, 3.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 22.3 minutes across his last 10 outings.

Ball (injury management) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against Atlanta.

The fact that Ball was initially labeled questionable for the contest is a strong indication of his overall health after missing the past two seasons with a knee injury. Ayo Dosunmu (calf) is healthy for the first time in 10 games and should see plenty of minutes, but Talen Horton-Tucker or Jevon Carter could also benefit from Ball's absence. Ball's next chance to play will come Friday against Charlotte.

Ball (injury management) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's game against the Pelicans.

This is a big surprise, as there's been no report of Ball being cleared for back-to-back sets -- he played 25 minutes Tuesday against the Pelicans and finished with 11 points (4-10 FG, 3-8 3Pt), eight rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block. Coby White (neck) and Ayo Dosunmu (calf) are also questionable for the Bulls, making this a situation to monitor closely ahead of tipoff.

Ball will be held out of Wednesday's game against the Hawks for left knee injury management purposes after playing 25 minutes in Tuesday's 119-113 loss to the Pelicans, Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Ball has experienced no setbacks this season in his return from the left knee injury that required three separate operations and cost him the entire 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, but he's still likely to be held out of one half of back-to-back sets throughout the campaign. The Bulls are slowly loosening the reins on Ball's playing-time restriction, however; he's played 20-plus minutes in seven of the past eight contests, including at least 24 minutes in both of the past two contests. Though he was back on the bench Tuesday with Coby White (neck) returning from a one-game absence, Ball produced a fantasy-friendly line with 11 points (4-10 FG, 3-8 3Pt), eight rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block. If he continues to hold steady at around 25 minutes in his future appearances, Ball will be worthy of a flier in most 12-team leagues where he's available on the waiver wire.

Ball will come off the bench in Tuesday's game against New Orleans.

With Coby White (neck) returning to game action, Ball will retreat to the bench. The 27-year-old got the spot start in Sunday's loss to the Kings, during which he chipped in 15 points (5-9 FG, 5-8 3Pt), three assists, one rebound and one block across 26 minutes. Ball will suit up in the first leg of the team's back-to-back set Tuesday, though he'll be sidelined for Wednesday's game against Atlanta, per Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune.

Ball will play Tuesday against New Orleans, but will sit out of Wednesday's matchup with Atlanta, Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Ball is still a ways away from playing in both games of back-to-backs, but he is getting closer. Ball missed 15 games due to a wrist injury this season and is still in the process of returning from a knee injury a couple seasons ago, but he tied his season-high in minutes (26) and made a season-high five threes in Sunday's game against Sacramento, showing encouraging signs of approaching fulll recovery.

Ball contributed 15 points (5-9 FG, 5-8 3Pt), one rebound, three assists and one block across 26 minutes during Sunday's 124-119 loss to Sacramento.

Ball got the starting nod Sunday in place of Coby White (neck), making his first start since the 2021-22 season. Ball put together his best outing of the season, connecting on a team-high-tying handful of threes while ending as one of three players with 15 or more points in a losing effort. Ball set a new season high in scoring, having surpassed the double-digit scoring mark in three contests this year. He also set a season high in threes made, having connected on three or more shots from deep on four occasions.

Ball will start Sunday's game against the Kings.

With Coby White (neck) sidelined, Ball will make his first start since the 2021-22 campaign. Ball has yet to play more than 26 minutes in a game this season while the Bulls operate with immense caution given his injury history, so even though he's starting, he's unlikely to play more than 30 minutes. Over his last seven appearances, Ball has averaged 6.9 points, 3.9 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 steals in 22.4 minutes per game.

Ball logged eight points (3-7 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 1-2 FT), two rebounds, six assists and two steals in 25 minutes during Saturday's 139-126 win over the Knicks.

Ball continues to look better with each performance, having now played at least 23 minutes in three straight games. Although the offense is yet to fully come around, Ball has been able to demonstrate his versatility on both ends of the court, averaging 5.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.0 three-pointers over the past week. Although his upside could very well be capped should he remain on somewhat of a minutes restriction, the fact he is on the court and playing meaningful minutes has to be seen as a huge positive.

Ball chipped in five points (2-7 FG, 1-6 3Pt), eight rebounds, four assists, one block and three steals in 22 minutes during Wednesday's 125-107 loss to the Wizards.

Ball didn't have a good shooting performance and only mustered four points, but fantasy managers know they can't expect him to carry Chicago offensively, especially if he's coming off the bench. Instead, he managed to deliver a solid showing as a stat-stuffing machine, and he notched at least one tally in each of the five major categories. He's achieved that feat in four of his last nine appearances, so even when considering his bench role, he has a bit more upside in category-based leagues.

Ball chipped in four points (1-3 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 1-3 FT), three rebounds, five assists and three steals in 26 minutes during Monday's 115-108 overtime victory over the Hornets.

Ball played at least 20 minutes for the third time this season, closing the game in what was a season-high 26 minutes. Although his production was a little underwhelming, especially on the offensive end, the fact he played significant minutes and ran with the closing lineup bodes well for his immediate future. The Bulls now have a night off before facing the Wizards on Wednesday.

Ball (illness) is available for Saturday night's game against the Bucks, Will Gottlieb of AllCHGO.com reports.

Ball has missed the Bulls' last two games due to an illness, but he will make his return Saturday. The 2017 first-round pick is averaging 5.2 points, 3.6 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals across 17.5 minutes per game this season.

Ball (illness) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the Bucks.

The 27-year-old point guard is in jeopardy of missing his third consecutive outing while he deals with an illness. If Ball, Ayo Dosunmu (Achilles) or Josh Giddey (ankle) are sidelined, Talen Horton-Tucker and Jevon Carter will likely see a bump in minutes.

Ball (illness) won't play in Thursday's game versus the Hawks.

Ball will miss his second straight contest Thursday after being downgraded from doubtful to out due to an illness. Ball's next chance to suit up is Saturday's matchup with Milwaukee.

Ball (illness) is doubtful for Thursday's game against the Hawks.

Ball will likely miss a second straight game due to an illness. Ayo Dosunmu (Achilles) and Josh Giddey (ankle) are both questionable, so the Bulls may be shorthanded in the backcourt against Trae Young and the Hawks.

Ball (illness) won't play in Monday's game against the Bucks, Will Gottlieb of AllCHGO.com reports.

Ball is feeling under the weather and is unavailable to face Milwaukee. With Josh Giddey (ankle) also sidelined, Ayo Dosunmu, Coby White and Talen Horton-Tucker should handle most of the point guard work. Ball's next chance to play will come Thursday at Atlanta.

Ball (illness) is questionable for Monday's game against the Bulls.

Ball was a late addition to the injury report. Through 12 regular season contests, he's averaging 17.5 minutes per game with 5.2 points, 3.6 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals. In addition to Ball, Josh Giddey (ankle) is also considered questionable.

Ball (knee) is available for Monday's game against the Raptors.

Ball has been on the Bulls' injury report as of late due to left knee injury management, but he will continue to play through the issue Monday. Over his last six outings, Ball has averaged 5.8 points, 3.3 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals over 17.7 minutes per game.

Ball (knee) is probable for Monday's game against the Raptors.

Ball has appeared in six of the last seven games, with his only absence in that stretch coming during the first half of a back-to-back set. Since returning to action at the end of November, Ball has averaged 17.7 minutes per game.

Ball (knee) is available for Friday's game against the Hornets.

Ball has strict minutes restrictions due to his lengthy injury history, but he's been playing consistently of late, and he'll suit up Friday after five days of rest. Ball has appeared in five of the Bulls' last six matchups, a span in which he's averaged 5.0 points, 3.2 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals across 17.4 minutes per contest.

Ball is listed as probable for Friday's game against the Hornets due to left knee injury management.

The Bulls continue to manage the 27-year-old's playing time in his first NBA season since the 2021-22 campaign due to a litany of knee injuries. Ball has appeared in five of the Bulls' last six matchups, during which he averaged 5.0 points, 3.2 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals across 17.4 minutes per contest.

Ball (knee) is available for Sunday's game against Philadelphia, Will Gottlieb of AllCHGO.com reports.

Ball will play Sunday after being listed as probable due to left knee management. Over his last four outings he's averaged 5.5 points, 3.5 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals over 16.8 minutes per game.

Ball (knee) is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the 76ers, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Ball has played in four of the Bulls' last five games as he continues to manage a left knee injury, though he is expected to play Sunday. Over those four games, Ball has averaged 5.5 points, 3.5 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals over 16.8 minutes per game.

Ball (knee) is available for Friday's game against the Pacers, Will Gottlieb of AllCHGO.com reports.

Ball will suit up after missing Thursday's win over the Spurs due to left knee injury management. The 27-year-old guard appeared in three consecutive outings prior to missing the first leg of the back-to-back set Thursday. In this three-game span, Ball averaged 4.3 points, 3.3 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals across 16.7 minutes per game.

Ball (knee) is listed as questionable for Friday's game against the Pacers.

Ball missed the first leg of the back-to-back set in Thursday's win over the Spurs due to left knee injury management. The 27-year-old guard appeared in three consecutive outings prior to missing Thursday's matchup, during which he averaged 4.3 points, 3.3 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals across 16.7 minutes per game.

Ball (rest) will not play Thursday against the Spurs, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Ball hasn't been cleared for back-to-back sets, so this is standard procedure. With Ball resting Thursday, he'll be in the rotation Friday against the Pacers.

Ball (wrist) said he'll play in Friday's game against the Celtics, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Ball has been dealing with a right wrist sprain and will remain under a minutes restriction. Coach Billy Donovan said Friday that the point guard will remain limited to roughly 15 minutes per game, though he hopes Ball will get up to 20 minutes soon, according to Will Gottlieb of AllCHGO.com. The 27-year-old returned from a 15-game absence in Wednesday's loss to the Magic, during which he tallied six points (2-3 FG, 2-3 3Pt), four steals, three assists, two blocks and one rebound in 15 minutes.

Ball is probable for Friday's game against the Celtics due to a right wrist sprain.

Ball made his first appearance following a 15-game absence in the loss to the Magic on Wednesday, in which he tallied six points (2-3 FG, 2-3 3Pt), four steals, three assists, two blocks and one rebound in 15 minutes. Ball is expected to continue operating on a minutes' restriction until further notice, but the probable tag suggests he should be available off the bench for Friday's contest.

Ball (wrist) tallied six points (2-3 FG, 2-3 3Pt), four steals, three assists, two blocks and one rebound in 15 minutes in Wednesday's 133-119 loss to the Magic.

Just as head coach Billy Donovan had suggested would be the case, Ball was on a restriction of 15-to-16 minutes Wednesday in his return from a 15-game absence due to a right wrist sprain. Despite those limitations, Ball delivered a stellar all-around line, with his defensive production in particular standing out. While the big performance may compel some to scoop Ball up off the waiver wire, he's still likely to face significant restrictions with his playing time for the remainder of the season after having missed most of the previous two and a half seasons following three operations on his left knee. If Ball continues to stick in a 15-to-20-minute role, he'll likely have difficulty replicating the numbers he turned in Wednesday with any regularity.

Ball (wrist) is available for Wednesday's matchup against the Magic.

A sprained right wrist has kept the point guard sidelined since late October, following just three appearances. Ball could be given a light minutes restriction after the long layoff, though he hasn't seen more than 18 minutes in a game yet this season due to knee injury management. His return could spell fewer minutes for Talen Horton-Tucker, Ayo Dosunmu and others.

Ball (wrist) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's game against Orlando.

Despite the questionable tag, ESPN's Shams Charania reported Tuesday that Ball was planning on returning to the court against Orlando. The guard has been sidelined since Oct. 28, so if he does get the green light, he'll likely have heavy restrictions right out of the gate.

Ball (wrist) is targeting a return to action Wednesday against the Magic, ESPN's Shams Charania reports.

Ball has been sidelined since Oct. 28 and suffered a small setback along the way. This update confirms that Ball won't take the floor Tuesday against the Wizards after carrying a doubtful tag on the injury report, but he was only going to play in one game of this back-to-back set at most given his restrictions which were set in stone prior to the season. If he does get the green light for Wednesday, it's fair to expect a modest workload in the early going.

Ball (wrist) is doubtful for Tuesday's game against the Wizards.

While Ball will likely remain sidelined Tuesday, his upgrade to doubtful suggests he's getting closer to game action. The oft-injured guard hasn't played since Oct. 28 and was already under a strict minute restriction due to his lingering knee issues. When cleared to play, Ball will likely be limited to around 15 minutes a game.

Ball (wrist) "will need all of next week before he ramps up" to game action," coach Billy Donovan tells Will Gottlieb of AllCHGO.com.

Ball appears set to miss Chicago's next 5-6 contests, trending in the direction of being unavailable until December. Ball has not played since Oct. 28, so Chicago's current rotation will continue on.

Coach Billy Donovan said Friday that Ball (wrist) will likely need at least another week of rehabilitation before returning to game action, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

According to Johnson, Ball has struggled to catch passes without pain and and has been in a fair amount of discomfort during on-court activities. The 27-year-old has yet to participate in scrimmages and will likely be limited when he is cleared to resume five-on-five activity. Ball returned to game action for the first time since January of 2021 this season, during which he has averaged 4.7 points, 3.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds across 15.7 minutes per game over three regular-season appearances.

Ball isn't wearing a brace on his right wrist Monday and is slated to resume basketball activities in the coming days, Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune reports.

An MRI on Ball's wrist showed a sprain between Grades 1 and 2, which allowed him to avoid surgery, but coach Billy Donovan said Monday that it'll be a "slow progression" for the oft-injured point guard. Ball has already missed six straight games and will likely be sidelined for at least a few more weeks while he works his way back to full strength.

Ball (wrist) is still wearing a splint and remains without a timetable for return, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reported Wednesday.

Ball sustained a sprained right wrist Oct. 28 and was given 10 days for recovery before being re-evaluated. Thursday is the 10th day since the diagnosis, but it seems like he's not close returning. He's yet to shed his splint, and it's unknown when he'll be able to do so. While he's sidelined, Ayo Dosunmu, Talen Horton-Tucker and Dalen Terry should continue to see more minutes.

Ball sustained a right wrist sprain in the first quarter of Monday's game against Memphis and will be reevaluated in 10 days.

Ball returned to game action for the first time since January of 2022 this season but will now miss time with something other than a knee injury. The 27-year-old's next chance to play is expected to come Nov. 9 against Atlanta, though the team could opt to bring the point guard back slowly. In Ball's absence, Ayo Dosunmu and Dalen Terry are candidates for more playing time off the bench.

Ball is questionable for Wednesday's game against the Magic due to right wrist soreness.

Given his lower-body injury history, it's encouraging that Ball isn't listed with knee injury management. However, the veteran guard is still in danger of missing his second game of the season. The severity of the wrist issue remains unclear, but if it sidelines Ball, Ayo Dosounmu would be a candidate for more minutes off the bench.

Ball closed Monday's 126-123 win over Memphis with six points (2-4 FG, 2-4 3Pt), one rebound, six assists and one block across 18 minutes.

Ball continues to play off the bench and with a severe minutes restriction, but he's finding ways to make an impact every time he steps on the court. His assist-to-turnover ratio has been particularly impressive, as he's recorded 11 assists and just three turnovers through his first three games. Ball's fantasy upside will remain fairly low due to the restrictions regarding his playing time, but he's one player to keep close tabs on as soon as his workload continues to increase.

Ball (knee) is available for Monday's game against the Grizzlies.

Ball sat the first half of Chicago's first back-to-back this season Friday versus Milwaukee, but he was back in action Saturday, posting three points (1-6 FG), five rebounds and one assist in 16 minutes during a loss to Oklahoma City. Ball will be limited to around 15 minutes a night for the foreseeable future as he works his way back to full strength.

Ball (knee) is available for Saturday's game versus the Thunder.

Ball sat out Friday's contest due to left knee injury management but is set to play on the second night of a back-to-back against Oklahoma City. Ball will likely play around the 14 minutes he received in Chicago's regular-season opener.

Ball won't play in Friday's game versus the Bucks due to left knee surgery injury management.

Ball returned to action Wednesday after more than a two-year absence due to knee injuries. However, the Bulls will play it cautiously with the 27-year-old guard on the first night of a back-to-back Friday. Ball should be able to suit up for Saturday's matchup with Oklahoma City, albeit on a minutes restriction.

Ball supplied five points (2-4 FG, 1-3 3Pt), two rebounds and four assists in 14 minutes during Wednesday's 123-111 loss to New Orleans.

Ball made his first regular-season appearance since January of 2022 on Wednesday after missing extended time with multiple knee injuries. The 26-year-old guard was on a minutes restriction and played exactly the 14 minutes that coach Billy Donovan expected he would. While Ball will likely continue to play limited minutes during the season, it was a good sign to see him back on the court healthy.

Coach Billy Donovan said Tuesday that Ball (knee) will likely play 14-16 minutes during Wednesday's regular-season opener against the Pelicans, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

It's safe to assume Ball, who saw game action during the preseason for the first time since January of 2022, will face heavy minute restrictions for the entire season. He looked sharp during his limited preseason action, showcasing the improved three-point shot he developed before knee injuries derailed his career. However, if he's consistently playing less than 20 minutes, it'll be difficult for Ball to crack fantasy radars in standard leagues.

Ball delivered 11 points (4-9 FG, 3-7 3Pt), three rebounds and three assists across 16 minutes off the bench in Friday's 139-137 preseason win over the Cavaliers.

Ball had another stong showing in the preseason finale and seems set to be part of the rotation on Opening Night. The 26-year-old has not played in a regular-season game since January of 2022, and he will likely be limited to begin the 2024-25 campaign, but he figures to see his workload increase as the season progresses.

Coach Wes Unseld said Ball (knee) will play under a minutes restriction in Friday's preseason finale against the Cavaliers, Will Gottlieb of AllCHGO.com reports.

Ball will suit up for the preseason finale as the club works him back to playing form before Opening Night. The 26-year-old has not played in a regular-season game since January of 2022, and he will likely be limited to begin the 2024-25 campaign.

Ball notched 10 points (4-6 FG, 2-4 3Pt), one rebound, one assist, one steal and a blocked shot across 15 minutes in Wendesday's 125-123 win over the Timberwolves.

Ball's first appearance since January of 2022 exceeded expectations, as his knee injury didn't appear to be a major concern despite a brace that was clearly visible. Ball's injury was serious enough to require a meniscus transplant and cartilage transplant to repair his knee, so the Bulls will take things slowly with their former first-round pick. Absences in back-to-back games will likely be a regular occurrence for Ball this season, and while his return is a cause of concern for fantasy managers who are invested in Coby White or Josh Giddey, Ball's minutes will be limited for the foreseeable future.

Ball (knee) said he will be limited to 16 minutes for Wednesday's preseason game against the Timberwolves, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Ball is set to taste his first live action since January of 2022. He made it clear that he's going to have to manage his knee all season, and that will include sitting out one game of back-to-back sets, so fantasy managers should temper expectations. He's likely to have minute restrictions for the foreseeable future, as well.

Ball (knee) could return for Wednesday's preseason game against the Timberwolves, Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic reports.

The Bulls are reportedly targeting this return date, barring any setbacks. He's been ramping up his activity in recent practices, and the Bulls wouldn't bring him back if they weren't confident in the health of his knee.

Ball is questionable for Saturday's preseason game against the Grizzlies, and he was held out of Saturday's shootaround due to knee soreness, Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Ball has dealt with a litany of knee injuries throughout his career, and he has yet to make a return to game action since January of 2022. The 26-year-old did was absent from shootaround, but coach Billy Donovan said it should not be viewed as a setback in his recovery, according to Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune. Ball is expected to make his return during the preseason, and he will likely be good to go for Opening Night.

Ball (knee) said Friday that he expects to play in two of the Bulls' final three preseason games, Will Gottlieb of AllCHGO.com reports.

Ball is expected to make his long awaited return to game action before Opening Night. The 26-year-old has dealt with a litany of knee injuries that have held him out since January of 2022, though he is finally expected back for the 2024-25 campaign. Ball's next chance to suit up will come Saturday versus the Grizzlies.

Ball (knee) is not likely to play in Saturday's preseason game against the Grizzlies, Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune reports.

While Ball will not make his long awaited return Saturday, head coach Billy Donovan said that Ball is still working on a slow build up into game readiness, meaning he may come back soon. If held out, his next chance to suit up will be Monday against Milwaukee.

Ball (knee) won't play in Tuesday's preseason game against the Cavaliers, Chuck Swirsky of the Bulls Radio Network reports.

Ball has been scrimmaging at recent practices, but he's still not quite ready for his first game action since January of 2022. Given the lengthy layout, Ball will certainly have major restrictions when he is cleared to play, which could come Saturday versus Memphis.

Ball (knee) is questionable to play in Tuesday's preseason game against the Cavaliers, Will Gottlieb of AllCHGO.com reports.

Ball took contact in Sunday's practice and continues to trend in the right direction. Coach Billy Donovan said he's still trying to ramp the guard up slowly, but he didn't rule him out from making an appearance Tuesday. All signs point to Ball returning to the court in the very near future.

Ball (knee) was active for Friday's practice and participated in 5-on-5 scrimmages, Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Ball is expected to make his return to game action Opening Night, and coach Billy Donovan said Ball felt good and performed well against contact Friday. The 26-year-old has not played since January of 2022, but his return to contact bodes well for his comeback.

Ball (knee) is participating in training camp with no setbacks, with a continued target of Opening Night for a return to action, Evan Sidery of Forbes.com reports.

Ball appears to be on track to suit up Oct. 23 when the Bulls travel to New Orleans to kick off the 2024-25 season. While two days of training camp can yield premature optimism, Ball continuing to ramp up only bodes well for returning to the court for the first time since Jan. 14, 2022.

Chicago vice president Arturas Karnisovas said Monday that he's hoping to have Ball (knee) cleared to play for Opening Night, Cody Westerlund of 670TheScore.com reports.

The Bulls are planning to bring Ball along slowly in training camp, and he may not do live 5-on-5 scrimmages as a precaution. It's worth noting, however, that Ball has played 5-on-5 in pickup settings. There have been several positive updates on Ball's health in recent weeks which has the Bulls excited for obvious reasons.

The Bulls confirmed Wednesday that Ball (knee) has started playing in full-contact five-on-five scrimmages and hasn't faced any setbacks, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

This is a massive hurdle for Ball to clear. The 2017 No. 2 overall pick hasn't played in an NBA game since Jan. 14, 2022, and has undergone three surgeries on his left knee during that stretch, including an experimental cartilage transplant for a new meniscus. Cowley notes that no professional athlete has ever returned to high-level competition after having that surgery. Ball picked up his $21.4 million player option for 2024-25, so the Bulls would certainly be incentivized to play him if he's healthy. However, it's unclear how he'll fit into Chicago's plans after trading for Josh Giddey this offseason.

Ball (knee) has been cleared to do "pretty much everything on the floor" and is on track to participate in 5-on-5 drills in August, Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas provided an update on Ball's status after the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft and was optimistic Ball could be ready in time for training camp. Ball hasn't played since January of 2022 with left knee issues that have required three surgeries, but he's been taking part in basketball activities and could be healthy enough to play in the 2024-25 season. The 26-year-old picked up his $21.4 million player option for the upcoming season.

Ball (knee) has picked up the $21.4 million player option in his contract for the 2024-25 season, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

Ball continues to work toward a potential comeback before he hits the open market next summer, as he signed an original four-year, $80 million free agent deal in 2021, so it was a no-brainer for him to pick up this option. Ball hasn't logged minutes at the NBA level since Jan. 2022, but both the player and the organization are hopeful he'll be able to step on the hardwood at some point during the 2024-25 campaign.

There is optimism that Ball (knee) will be able to play next season, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Ball hasn't logged any NBA minutes since Jan. 2022 due to a string of knee injuries. While the 26-year-old guard has yet to play 5-on-5 or participate in any contract drills, there is still optimism that he will return to action in 2024-25. Ball has a $21.4 million player option for next season.

Ball (knee) has begun cutting, sprinting and jumping in controlled, non-contact situations, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

The Bulls have exercised extreme caution with Ball's prolonged recovery from his third knee procedure since January 2021. Although it is just running in a controlled setting, this seems to be a big step for point guard in his recovery process. While there is still presumably a long way to go, the UCLA product is hoping to return to game action at some point during the 2024-25 season.

Ball (knee) isn't experiencing pain during his day-to-day activities, which include a lot of mobility work, but he hasn't resumed sprinting yet, Ryan Taylor of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Ball was expected to return to running in January, but all parties involved continue to proceed with caution. "Definitely doing much better in rehab," Ball said. "It's been a long process, obviously, longer than I'd like it to be. It's definitely cut out in stages and I keep checking off the boxes I'm supposed to and getting better each week." Coach Billy Donovan had similar sentiments, "He's doing different things on the court. He hasn't done any sprinting yet. I think everybody medically is pleased with the way it's progressing. Some of these movements he's doing now caused him pain before and aren't causing him pain. I know there was talk in January of him sprinting. I don't want to sit here and say he's behind schedule. I don't think that's the case because it's going well." Ball hasn't played since Jan. 2021, but he's staying positive and eyeing a return in 2024-25.

Ball (knee) is expected to return to running in January, Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune reports. "The pain that he was experiencing has been eliminated," coach Billy Donovan said of Ball on Thursday.

While Poe notes that the Bulls still do not expect Ball to return this season, this is nevertheless an encouraging development for the No. 2 overall pick in 2017, who has not played since midway through the 2021-22 campaign. Early in his career, Ball dealt with a handful of lower-body injuries, most notably a cartilage issue in his knee, which was addressed via a transplant procedure in March of 2023. The plan is for Ball to accelerate his rehab within the next month, at which point the Bulls may have a better indication as to whether he'll be able to resume his NBA career. Back in October, Ball told reporters at the Bulls' media day that he "definitely" plans to play again. The former UCLA standout has a $21.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season that he'll likely exercise this summer.

Ball (knee) said Monday that he's about halfway through the rehab process for the cartilage transplant surgery he underwent in March and is optimistic that he'll be able to continue his career, despite having already been ruled out for the 2023-24 season, ESPN.com reports. "I definitely plan on playing again," Ball said at the Bulls' media day. "After surgery three, I feel like it's going well so far -- no setbacks. So for me, it's just keep my head up, just keep doing the work."

Ball's last NBA appearance came Jan. 14, 2022, and though he's set to miss a second consecutive season after undergoing a third operation on his left knee in a little more than a year, he's not yet ready to abandon hope on playing again. The 25-year-old said he plans on splitting the upcoming season between Chicago and Los Angeles while he continues his rehab program. Since Ball won't be regularly working out with the team, updates on where he stands in his recovery could be sparse in the months to come.

Ball (knee) said during a recent podcast appearance that he'll miss the 2023-24 season, Jamal Collier of ESPN.com reports.

Ball's statement isn't a significant surprise, as Bulls Vice President of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas said in June that he expected the point guard to miss a second consecutive season. However, Ball said during his podcast appearance that he finally feels on track in his recovery process after undergoing cartilage transplant surgery in March. The 25-year-old still has a lengthy recovery process ahead of him, but it's encouraging to hear a slightly positive update after a year marred by setbacks.

Bulls vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas said Friday that he does not anticipate Ball (knee) playing during the 2023-24 season, Jamal Collier of ESPN reports.

The most-recent update from the Bulls was back in March when the team announced that Ball would undergo another surgery on his left knee -- his third procedure on the same knee in roughly 14 months. Ball missed the entire 2022-23 campaign after playing in only 35 games the previous season. His last appearance for the Bulls came in January of 2022 before he was shut down midseason after posting 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.8 steals and 3.1 made threes (42.3% 3Pt) per game. While Ball is only 25, his NBA career appears to be in serious jeopardy. He remains under contract through 2023-24 and holds a player option for 2024-25.

Ball underwent cartilage transplant surgery on his left knee Monday, Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Shams Charania of The Athletic confirmed last week that Ball was set to undergo the third surgery on his problematic left knee in 14 months, with the latest one differing in nature from the prior two, which were arthroscopic procedures. Ball's cartilage transplant procedure is described as a relatively new innovation in sports medicine that's described as an alternative to a full knee replacement in order to better maintain the integrity of the knee joint. Given the limited history of athletes who have had the procedure, Ball is without a clear timeline for a return, but the Bulls are already preparing for the 25-year-old to miss most of the 2023-24 season. Both the Bulls and Ball are hoping that a full recovery from Monday's surgery will allow him to resume his career at some point, though it's unclear if he'll ever resemble the player he was before the knee issue first cropped up last January.

Ball will undergo a third procedure on his left knee and is expected to miss most if not all of the 2023-24 season, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

Ball only played 35 games in 2021-22 and has already been ruled out for the 2022-23 season due to left knee injuries. The Bulls are hopeful that the surgery will revive the 25-year-old point guard's career. When he's been on the floor, Ball is a productive fantasy player, averaging 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.8 steals in 34.6 minutes across those 35 appearances for Chicago. Ayo Dosunmu will likely be in line for another high-use season if the Bulls don't find another point guard in the offseason.

Ball faces a "growing possibility" of requiring a third surgical procedure on his left knee, which would likely include an additional six months of rehab and recovery time, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

Ball hasn't played in a game since Jan. 14, 2022 and was recently ruled out for the rest of the 2022-23 season after failing to make any significant progress in his recovery from the two procedures on his knee, which he underwent last January and last September. The 25-year-old point guard also had another arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in the knee during the summer of 2018. Before a choice on whether Ball will need another procedure is made, the player and his representatives will consult with knee specialists, but at this stage, sources tell Wojnarowski that the belief is that a third surgery in 14 months will give the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft his best chance to play again. Ball, who is set to enter the third year of the four-year, $80 million deal he inked with the Bulls in August 2021, will almost assuredly be out for at least the early part of the 2023-24 season if he opts for another surgery.

Bulls executive vice president of operations Arturas Karnisovas confirmed in an announcement Tuesday that Ball (knee) won't be available to play during the 2022-23 season.

Though Karnisovas' statement noted that Ball has made "significant increases in strength and function over the past several months," the point guard "continues to experience performance limiting discomfort during participation in high level basketball-related activities." Even if Ball's discomfort subsides within the next month or two, he won't have sufficient time to regain enough fitness to return to game action. The Bulls are thus having Ball focus on a return to the court for the start of the 2023-24 season, though given the pessimism thus far surrounding his recovery from the torn meniscus in his left knee that he suffered in January 2021 and that has since required two surgical procedures, it's far from a given that the 25-year-old will be back to full strength by the fall. Ball will enter the third and final season of the contract he inked with the Bulls as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Pelicans in August 2021, but the deal also contains a $21.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season.

Ball (knee) is expected to be shut down for the remainder of the 2022-23 season, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

Unfortunately, the writing has been on the wall for several months, as all indications are that Ball continues to battle pain and discomfort in his surgically repaired left knee. The guard underwent two procedures on the knee in 2022, the first of which ended his 2021-22 campaign after just 35 appearances. Entering this season, there was some hope that Ball would be able to rehab and return at some point, but now it looks as though the team will close the book on that possibility coming out of the All-Star break. Ball, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, is only 25 years old, but given the developments of the last calendar year, it's now fair to question whether he'll ever be able to recapture his status as one of the league's most promising, two-way guards. Prior to being shut down in 2021-22, Ball averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.9 blocks while shooting a career-best 42.3 percent from three (3.1 3PM/G).

Bulls vice president Arturas Karnisovas said Saturday that Ball (knee) will have his status updated following the All-Star break, Brian Dulik of The Associated Press reports.

Chicago's upcoming update on Ball could provide final word once and for all regarding whether or not he has a realistic chance of playing during the 2022-23 season. The sixth-year point guard hasn't played in an NBA game since Jan. 14, 2022 while struggling to make progress in his recovery from a pair of arthroscopic procedures on his left knee. Though prior updates on Ball from head coach Billy Donovan haven't been especially encouraging, the 25-year-old has been able to dunk the basketball in addition to doing some light running in recent weeks, so he hasn't been completely shut down from activity.

Coach Billy Donovan said before Saturday's game against the Magic that Ball (knee) is "nowhere close" to returning and the team will have a formal conversation about a cut-off date if nothing improves by the All-Star break, Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune reports.

It's looking increasingly unlikely that Ball will appear in a game this season. Despite making tangible progress this month, like light running and dunking, Ball is still experiencing significant discomfort in his surgically-repaired left knee. Fantasy managers still holding onto Ball in redraft leagues are probably safe to drop him, especially if those leagues end in mid-to-late March rather than April.

Ball said Monday that he's still experiencing some discomfort in his surgically repaired left knee and acknowledged the possibility that he might not be able to play during the 2022-23 season, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

While joining the Bulls in Paris ahead of their upcoming game in Paris on Thursday, Ball told reporters that he's remained mentally strong in his year-long absence from the left knee injury that he's addressed through a pair of arthroscopic procedures, the second of which he had in late September. Though Ball is doing light running again and taking part in some on-court work, he likely won't be cleared to ramp up to full-speed, full-contact practice until the discomfort in his knee completely subsides. At this stage, Ball appears safe to rule out through the All-Star break, and his comments Monday suggest that the 25-year-old isn't entirely confident he'll be ready to play before the Bulls wrap up their regular-season slate April 9. Given his lack of a return timeline -- if he suits up at all in 2022-23 -- Ball is tough to justify holding in most redraft leagues with limited injured-list spots.

Ball (knee) shared videos on Instagram of him dunking and running on the treadmill, but coach Billy Donovan continues to state that the guard's progress is "really, really slow," K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Of course, Ball dunking is a great sign that he's progressing, but Johnson notes that he's yet to be cleared to cut or do full-speed daily on-court running -- maybe the biggest hurdles. Saturday (Jan. 14) marks the one-year mark since Ball last appeared in an NBA game. It's doubtful he will play before the All-Star break, and his status for the entire 2022-23 season remains in doubt.

Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said Friday that Ball is making some progress in his recovery from left knee surgery, Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago reports. "[He is' regularly on the court shooting, which has been good," Donovan said of Ball. "Actually jumping a little bit while shooting. He's been doing some light jogging...it is progressing, it's just really slow. But there has definitely been some improvements and he's actually doing more physically than the last time we spoke."

Though Donovan continues to note that Ball's recovery from the latest surgery he had on his knee in September is going "really slow" and the point guard is "not even close" to being cleared for contact, it's at least a positive development that he isn't being shut down from activity entirely. That being said, Ball is nearing the one-year mark since he last played in an NBA game (Jan. 14, 2022), and he's currently at the stage in his recovery in which his rehab stalled out last spring, ultimately forcing a follow-up surgery in the fall. Based on where he currently stands, Ball seems unlikely to play before the All-Star break in mid-February, and it may be a stretch for him to suit up at any point before the 2022-23 season comes to a close unless he's able to begin practicing in some capacity within the next month or so.

Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said Sunday that Ball (knee) is "progressing towards" running, but the point guard remains without a timeline to do that activity, NBC Sports Chicago reports.

While Donovan's update is mildly positive, it's far from a guarantee that Ball, who underwent the second procedure on his left knee in eight months in late September, will be able to play at any point this season. Just one week ago, Adrian Wojnarowski reported on ESPN's "NBA Countdown" that Ball still has pain his left knee, a discouraging sign given that he's now two and a half months removed from his latest procedure. Even if Ball is able to get back on the court to do some running in the near future, it's worth noting that the 25-year-old previously felt pain while running on an anti-gravity treadmill last season while rehabbing from the initial surgery. With that in mind, the Bulls are likely to proceed extremely cautiously with Ball, whom Donovan said will require a "significant ramp-up period" to regain conditioning whenever he's ultimately cleared to resume basketball activities. Given that he doesn't currently look to be on pace to make his season debut until after the All-Star break, if at all, Ball

Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said Wednesday that Ball (knee) remains without a timeline for making his season debut, Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune reports. "It's been really slow," Donovan said, in reference to Ball's rehab process. "It's gotten better, but is he clearly without any pain? No, he's not. He still has pain. We're seeing the slow, gradual strides getting better, but I just don't have any timetable of when he could even be back."

Ball initially injured his left knee Jan. 14 of last season and underwent surgery approximately two weeks later to repair a small meniscus tear. Even after missing the rest of the season and rehabbing throughout the summer, the 25-year-old didn't respond to that procedure as well as the Bulls had hoped and required another knee surgery -- an arthroscopic debridement -- in late September. Nine weeks after having that second surgery, Ball is still unable to run, jump or cut, though he's been able to perform moderate weightlifting and core exercises. Ball doesn't appear to be particularly close to resuming basketball activities, so his 2022-23 debut looks as though it could be weeks or possibly even months away, if it even happens at all.

Bulls coach Billy Donovan is "very optimistic" about Ball's recovery but has not given a timetable for his return, K.C. Johnson reports.

Ball has started running in water but hasn't begun basketball activities yet. It doesn't appear that Ball is ready to return anytime soon, but there is good reason to expect he won't miss the entire season. Ayo Dosunmu, Goran Dragic and Alex Caruso should continue to receive the majority of the backcourt minutes with Coby White (quadriceps) also out.

Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said Monday that Ball (knee) is doing well following his surgery, Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Ball underwent surgery last Wednesday and is still on crutches, but Donovan said the team feels positive about the procedure. Per Poe, Ball will need more time to recover before the medical staff can clear him to begin rehab, but as of now, the Bulls are still giving the guard a chance to return this season.

Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said Monday that Ball (knee) is doing well following his surgery, Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Ball underwent surgery last Wednesday and is still on crutches, but Donovan said the team feels optimistic about the procedure. Per Poe, Ball will need more time to recover before the medical staff can clear him to begin rehab, but the Bulls are still giving the guard a chance to return this season.

Ball (knee) is slated to miss at least a few months after undergoing his second procedure Wednesday, but he is expected to return in 2022-23, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

Ball's absence for a large chunk of the season will leave a major void on the ball to open the 2022-23 campaign, which will likely be filled by some combination of Ayo Dosunmu and Goran Dragic. There's no specific date or month listed at this point, but "a few months" would suggest a return around the turn of the calendar to 2023 may be the best-case scenario.

Ball (knee) is slated to miss at least a few months after undergoing his second procedure Wednesday, but he should return in 2022-23, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

Ball's absence for a large chunk of the season will leave a major void on the ball to open the 2022-23 campaign, which will likely be primarily filled by the combination of Ayo Dosunmu and Goran Dragic. There's no specific date or month listed for Ball's return, but "at least a few months" would suggest around the turn of the calendar to 2023 may be the best-case scenario.

Ball (knee) indicated Wednesday that he can't run or jump yet after undergoing a knee procedure eight months ago, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports. He's set for a second procedure Wednesday.

Ball will be reevaluated in 6-to-8 weeks following his second procedure on his knee Wednesday. He's slated to miss a sizable chunk to open the 2022-23 campaign. We likely won't get any timetable until late October or early November when his evaluation is scheduled. In the meantime, Goran Dragic may be positioned as the team's starting point guard, though Alex Caruso, Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White could also be candidates to see minutes.

Ball (knee) is set for another procedure Wednesday after indicating that he can't run or jump yet after undergoing a knee surgery eight months ago, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports. He will be re-evaluated in 6-to-8 weeks.

The Bulls' starting point guard is slated to miss a sizable chunk to open the 2022-23 campaign. We likely won't get a more specific timetable until late October or early November when his evaluation is scheduled. In the meantime, Chicago will turn to its wealth of reserve guards to fill the void. Ayo Dosunmu and Alex Caruso should see the most minutes, while Goran Dragic and Coby White should fill in behind.

Ball will undergo surgery on his left knee on Wednesday, Sept. 28, and will be re-evaluated four-to-six weeks later, Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic reports.

Ball had surgery on his knee in January and will undergo an arthroscopic debridement to fix any remaining issues. Ball averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 0.9 blocks in 35 games last season. He also proved to be an elite outside shooter, shooting 42.3 percent on 7.4 three-point attempts. With Ball likely to miss the beginning of the season, the Bulls will have to turn to a combination of Goran Dragic, Ayo Dosunmu, Alex Caruso and Coby White to play point guard.

Ball will undergo surgery on his left knee on Wednesday, Sept. 28, and will be re-evaluated four to six weeks later, Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic reports.

Ball already had surgery on his knee back in January, but will undergo an arthroscopic debridement to fix any issues still remaining. Ball averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 0.9 blocks in 35 games last season. He also proved to be an elite outside shooter, shooting 42.3 percent on 7.4 three-point attempts. With Ball likely to miss the beginning of the season, the Bulls will have to turn to a combination of Goran Dragic, Ayo Dosunmu, Alex Caruso and Coby White to play point guard.

Ball is expected to miss all of training camp and is doubtful (knee) for the start of the season, Jamal Collier and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN report.

Ball is experiencing lingering pain and discomfort following meniscus surgery on his left knee in January. The Bulls were not the same team after Ball's injury. His perimeter defense, passing, and outside shooting are going to be missed early on. The Bulls will have to rely on a platoon of Goran Dragic, Ayo Dosunmu, Alex Caruso and Coby White until his return.

Ball (knee) might not be ready for training camp, Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune reports. "He's progressing. That's as much as I can say," Bulls vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas said during the NBA TV telecast. "He's getting better - probably not at the speed that we would like, but he is getting better. Hopefully he's going to be ready for training camp, (but) that's just our hopes."

The point guard underwent surgery for a torn meniscus Jan. 28, and despite initial reports that he could be back as soon as six weeks, he never ended up playing again. While Ball, in theory, should be ready for camp, it seems that his knee still isn't healing as expected. Injuries continue to be a plague on the point guard's career, as he's appeared in only 64.6 percent of the regular-season games possible since being drafted No. 2 overall in 2017.

Ball (knee) is making progress in his rehabilitation of left knee issues that bothered him last season, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Ball is rehabbing in Los Angeles, with the Bulls sending performance staff to see him every week to track progress. The point guard underwent surgery for a torn meniscus Jan. 28, and despite initial reports that he could be back as soon as six weeks, he never ended up playing again. The expectation should be that Ball will be ready for training camp in October.

The Bulls have "serious concerns" about Ball's surgically repaired left knee, as the point guard continues to deal with pain and discomfort, ESPN 1000 in Chicago reports.

Ball underwent surgery all the way back in late January and was initially expected to return to action before the end of the regular season. However, he hit multiple snags in the recovery process, prompting the Bulls to rule him out for the remainder of the season in early April. Roughly three weeks ago, it was reported that Ball was still experiencing pain in his knee, and it looks like nothing has changed on that front. While the UCLA product has plenty of time before the start of the 2022-23 season, it's nonetheless concerning that he does not appear to be making any progress. It's unclear what course of action the Bulls will take, but it's possible Ball could require a second, clean-up surgery on the knee.

Ball (knee) said Thursday that he's still experiencing pain, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Ball sustained a torn meniscus in his left knee in mid-January and missed the second half of the season due to the issue. He experienced a setback in his recovery process in March before he was officially ruled out for the season, and he said Thursday that he's now at a standstill in his rehab. The 24-year-old will visit with a specialist next week now that the Bulls' season has concluded, but it seems likely that he'll be forced to miss at least a portion of the offseason program since he's still dealing with pain.

Ball (knee) has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2021-22 season, including the playoffs.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Bulls revealed that Ball hit another snag in his recovery from a torn meniscus, and it quickly became clear that his chances to return during the playoffs were slim. The team has now confirmed that Ball will not return at any point this season, regardless of how far Chicago advances through the Eastern Conference bracket. While the injury marks a disappointing end to Ball's first year in Chicago, the UCLA product was an integral contributor throughout his 35 healthy games. In a career-high 34.6 minutes per contest, Ball averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.8 steals (career high), 0.9 blocks (career high), 3.1 threes (tied career high) and shot career bests from both the field (42.3% FG) and from three (42.3% 3Pt). Injuries have become an unfortunate theme for the early portion of Ball's NBA career, as he's only topped 55 games played once in his first five seasons in the league.

Ball (knee) once again experienced discomfort in his left knee after a second ramp-up period, Jamal Collier of ESPN reports. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski adds that there is "less and less optimism that Ball will return this season."

Ball went through a similar issue a few weeks ago and was subsequently shut down for a period of time before the Bulls' training staff attempted to ramp-up his activity for the second time. The fact that he appears to have hit the same snag twice is obviously a major concern for Chicago with the regular season coming to an end this weekend. Per coach Billy Donovan, the team will meet in the coming days to discuss the next course of action for the point guard, who hasn't played since Jan. 14. If he's unable to make any tangible progress in the next week or so, there's a good chance Ball could miss time to begin the playoffs.

Ball (knee) will resume ramping up his running after taking a 10-day hiatus.

Ball faced a setback after a recent ramp-up on his surgically repaired left knee responded poorly. The guard is set to resume running and strengthening his left knee until he's back to full speed. Ball's status going forward will depend on how his knee responds to the ramp-up going forward. There's still no indication of how long Ball will remain out.

Ball (knee) will take a 10-day break from running after his surgically repaired left knee did not respond well to a recent ramp-up, Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Last week, the Bulls revealed that Ball's rehab wasn't progressing quite as quickly as they'd hoped, and this latest news is another indication that he may struggle to return before the conclusion of the regular season. The plan is for Ball to cease running for the next week-and-a-half and instead focus on strengthening his left knee, on which he underwent surgery back in late-January. Ball will be re-evaluated around the end of the month, at which point it should be come clear whether or not he'll have a realistic chance to come back before the playoffs.

Ball (knee) is still dealing with the discomfort associated with a bone bruise and is without a timetable for a return, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Ball doesn't sound any closer to returning, and the team is unlikely to circle a date on the calendar for a potential return date until his bone bruise heals. In the meantime, Ayo Dosunmu, Coby White and Alex Caruso will continue to fill in at point guard for the Bulls.

Ball (knee) has not yet returned to lateral running or cutting, and coach Billy Donovan implied that his recovery timeline is behind that of teammates Alex Caruso (wrist) and Patrick Williams (wrist), KC Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Unlike Caruso and Williams, Ball is dealing a lower-body injury, so the fact that he's not as far along as that pair shouldn't come as a major surprise. All three players returned to Chicago this week to undergo further evaluation, so the hope is that we'll get a clearer timetable within the next few days. Ball is in the midst of easily the best fantasy season of his career, but with the conclusion of the regular season just a month away, managers may need to consider dropping Ball in order to add a healthier option for the stretch run or fantasy playoffs.

Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said that Ball (knee) took part in non-contact individual drills during Sunday's practice, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Ball and the other two Bulls players who have been sidelined with long-term injuries -- Patrick Williams (wrist) and Alex Caruso (wrist) -- all worked out on the court Sunday, but none have graduated to full-contact practice, which will likely mark the final hurdle all three will need to clear before being deemed ready for game action. Though Ball has seemingly avoided any setbacks since undergoing surgery in late January to repair a small meniscus tear in his left knee, Donovan hasn't shed any light regarding when the 24-year-old might be ready to take contact. With Ball's return likely at least a week or more away, fantasy managers in redraft leagues in the midst of head-to-head playoff matchups are probably best off using his roster spot elsewhere.

Ball (knee) has been ramping up his running lately, Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

After undergoing surgery on his left meniscus in late January, Ball is now running and working on regaining comfort in his knee. The 24-year-old's next recovery step will come when he's cleared for practice. Mid-to-late-March remains the most likely window for Ball to retake the court.

Ball (knee) recently resumed walking without the aid of crutches and appears to be trending toward a mid-to-late-March return to the Bulls lineup, Jamal Collier of ESPN.com reports.

Ball is seemingly free of setbacks in the initial two weeks following surgery to address a small meniscus tear in his left knee. The Bulls likely won't be able to zero in on a target date for Ball's return until he gets back on the court for practice, but the point guard looks like he'll have a chance at making it back for the final 10-to-15 games of the regular season. If that timeline holds, Ball could be worth stashing for managers ahead of the fantasy playoffs, though those in less fortunate positions in the standings may not be able to justify stomaching zeroes from him for at least the next month.

Bulls head coach Billy Donovan confirmed Monday that Ball will undergo surgery later this week to repair the small meniscus tear in his left knee, Cody Westerlund of 670TheScore.com reports.

The Bulls aren't expected to provide an official timeline for Ball's return until surgery is completed, but Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported Thursday that the point guard is expected to require 4-to-6 weeks of recovery time. If Ball's recovery from the procedure trends toward the longer end of that timeline, he could be sidelined for the start of the fantasy playoffs in some leagues, making him a tough player to justify stashing in the interim. As for the Bulls, they'll likely turn to Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White to cover nearly all the minutes at point guard while Ball is sidelined.

Ball (knee) will undergo a procedure on his left meniscus injury this week and is expected to be sidelined for four-to-six weeks, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

This is a tough blow for Ball and the Bulls, as his success was helping fuel a huge season for the team. First place in the East at 28-15, Chicago will now need to rely upon Coby White, Alex Caruso and Ayo Dosunmu to hold down point guard minutes over the next month-plus. In the short-term, the Bulls are also down Zach LaVine (knee), who is out for the upcoming road trip. Ultimately, Ball's absence means fantasy managers need to make sure White and Caruso are rostered, as they'll see expanded roles and should have relevance in even 10-team formats.

Ball was diagnosed Thursday with a small meniscus tear in his left knee and is evaluating treatment options, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

The Bulls had previously characterized Ball's injury as a bone bruise and ruled him out for their entire three-game road trip, but follow-up tests revealed that he's dealing with a more significant injury in the same knee. While a formal timeline for Ball's return won't be established until he decides how he wants to treat the bone bruise and meniscus tear, fantasy managers should prepare for the possibility of him missing multiple weeks in the event he requires a procedure. In the meantime, Coby White should continue serving as the Bulls' starting point guard, while rookie Ayo Dosunmu should benefit from added minutes while both Ball and Zach LaVine (knee) are sidelined.

Ball (knee) has been diagnosed with a bone contusion and is without a timetable for a return, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

The initial treatment for Ball's injury wasn't going as intended, so the medical staff opted to make a change. When pressed about whether Ball's injury timetable should be considered daily or weekly, coach Billy Donovan responded that it "depends on how Ball's knee responds." That's not especially helpful, so fantasy managers are left in the dark regarding when Ball could retake the court.

Ball (knee) remains out for Wednesday's contest against the Cavaliers, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

As expected, Ball will be sidelined for a third straight game while he deals with left knee pain. The Bulls haven't suggested that the injury is a long-term concern but any length of absence is less than ideal with fellow starter Zach LaVine (knee) also expected to miss an extended period. The good news is that Chicago is expected to get Alex Caruso (conditioning) back Wednesday for the first time since Dec. 20. However, he's going to be under a strict minutes limit for awhile, so Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu should continue serving as the Bulls' backcourt starters until one or all three of the aforementioned regulars returns to full strength.

Ball (knee) won't be available for Monday's game against the Grizzlies.

As expected, Ball will be sidelined for a second straight game while he contends with left knee pain. The Bulls haven't suggested that Ball's injury is a long-term concern, but his absence is a less-than-ideal development with fellow starting guard Zach LaVine (knee) also headed for a multi-game absence. Expect Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu to serve as the starters out of the backcourt as the Bulls begin a four-game week.

Ball (knee) is out Saturday against the Celtics.

Chicago will be extremely shorthanded Saturday. Ball, Zach LaVine (knee), Alex Caruso (foot), Derrick Jones (knee) and Javonte Green (groin) are all sidelined. That should lead to tons of usage for DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic, plus extra minutes for Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu.

Ball (knee) is questionable for Saturday's game against Boston.

Ball played 24 minutes in Friday's loss to the Warriors and totaled 15 points, two rebounds and three assists. However, he's now dealing with left knee soreness ahead of the second half of the back-to-back set. If the 24-year-old is unavailable against the Celtics, Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu should see increased run in the Bulls' shorthanded backcourt.

Ball logged nine points (3-6 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 1-2 FT), seven rebounds, seven assists, one block and one steal across 32 minutes during Wednesday's 138-112 loss to the Nets.

Ball didn't produce much as a scorer in the contest, but the good news is that he didn't destroy any fantasy field-goal percentages because he took only six shots. The veteran point guard was effective in other categories, leading Chicago with seven assists and seven rebounds. He added one block and one steal and has notched at least one theft in nine straight contests.

Ball chipped in 18 points (6-9 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 2-3 FT), six rebounds, five assists, one block and three steals over 27 minutes during Tuesday's 133-87 victory over the Pistons.

Ball made his presence felt on both ends of the court, working as an efficient scorer, a stellar defender and a clinical playmaker. He has also experienced an uptick in his scoring numbers, putting up 15 or more points in seven of his last nine outings. He's averaging 14.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.3 blocks per game since the beginning of December.

Ball provided three points (1-8 FG, 1-7 3Pt), seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals over 32 minutes during Monday's 102-98 win over Orlando.

Ball failed to fire in his return Monday, although the fact he logged 32 minutes off the bat is encouraging. His supporting numbers salvaged what was a rough shooting night, something that we have seen from a number of players after returning from the protocols. Fantasy managers need not worry here, and with a few days' break, Ball should be raring to go against the Wizards on Friday.

Ball will be available for Monday's game against the Magic.

Ball entered COVID protocols last Sunday but has officially tested out and will be back to availability Monday as the Bulls begin a three-game Week 12. Ball missed Chicago's last five contests, so this will mark his first action since back on Dec. 20 against Houston. Given the long layoff, it's possible the point guard's minutes could be limited. Over his last five contests, Ball averaged 18.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.4 blocks and 3.8 threes.

Ball (COVID-19 protocols) is no longer listed on the injury report ahead of Monday's game against the Magic, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Ball was one of the last players on the Bulls to enter COVID-19 protocols back on Dec. 26 and appears to be in line to return Monday night. It's unclear if the 24-year-old will have any conditioning restrictions or not but he figures to return to his normal spot in the starting lineup. Before going out, Ball was averaging 13.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, five assists, 1.8 steals and 1 block in 35.6 minutes per game.

Ball was placed in the NBA's health and safety protocols Thursday, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

Ball was one of the few members of the Bulls who had yet to enter the league's COVID-19 protocols coming into Sunday but could only hide for so long. He becomes the third player for Chicago to be placed in protocols Sunday, joining Alonzo McKinnie and Tony Bradley. Coby White should slide into the starting five while Ball is out. The earliest he could return would be Jan. 7 against the Wizards unless he's able to have two consecutive negative PCR tests within a 24-hour span.

Ball and the Bulls will not play Wednesday against Toronto after the game was postponed, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

Both teams are battling a number of COVID-19 absences, but the Raptors have been particularly decimated this week, as OG Anunoby became the eighth player to enter protocols ahead of Wednesday's contest. As such, the game will be made up at a later date, meaning the Bulls will have off until their next scheduled game Sunday against the Pacers.

Ball totaled 19 points (6-12 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 3-3 FT), five rebounds, eight assists, one block and five steals over 35 minutes during Monday's 133-118 win over the Rockets.

Ball continues his strong scoring run and has now connected on at least three treys in five straight games. Coby White's return has added another scorer to a loaded backcourt, and while Ball is more likely to suffer than Zach LaVine (COVID-19 protocols) and Demar DeRozan, his defensive prowess and assist production preserve his floor.

Ball contributed 19 points (7-15 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal over 38 minutes during Sunday's 115-110 win over the Lakers.

Ball delivered a strong scoring output -- for his standards -- but also made sure to contribute in every single major category, something that has been a trend with him all season long. It's worth noting Ball's scoring figures have been on the rise of late and despite the fact that he's not known for his ability to put up points on the road, he's now scored at least 15 points in four straight contests.

Ball and the Bulls won't play again until at least Sunday against the Lakers after the NBA officially postponed Chicago's upcoming games Tuesday against Detroit and Thursday against Toronto in the wake of the team's COVID-19 outbreak, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

The Bulls have 10 players currently in COVID-19 health and safety protocols and another out with a long-term injury (Patrick Williams), so the league elected to postpone the team's next two games, as Chicago is in danger of not having the minimum number of active players (eight) for either contest. At this stage, the Bulls' next game will come against the Lakers on Sunday, when the NBA is hopeful Chicago will have enough players available who have cleared the necessary protocols and regained conditioning. With Ball on track to play just one game this week, fantasy managers in weekly leagues should remove him from lineups.

Ball finished Wednesday's 115-92 loss to the Cavaliers with 19 points (6-12 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 3-3 FT), four rebounds, seven assists and three steals across 39 minutes.

Ball has now scored over 15 points in three of his last four games, and that is clearly a step in the right direction for the versatile point guard since the scoring department hasn't been one of his strongest areas throughout his career. He's been able to balance that with solid numbers in other categories, however, and that has been the case once again in 2021-22. Through 20 games since the beginning of November, Ball is averaging 12.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists and a combined 2.5 steals/blocks per game.

Ball closed with 20 points (7-15 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 2-3 FT), 10 rebounds, four assists and four blocks across 40 minutes during Monday's 109-97 victory over the Nuggets.

Coming off of a pair of eight-point efforts in his last two outings, Ball got back on track as a scorer, draining four three-pointers to give him multiple threes for the seventh consecutive game. One of the league's most well-rounded guards for fantasy purposes, Ball is up to 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocks per game while drilling 3.1 three-pointers at better than a 42 percent clip. Ball also adds value in points, rebounds and assists, but he's a complete non-factor when it comes to free throws, having attempted only 11 on the season (879 total minutes played).

Ball recorded 19 points (7-11 FG, 5-7 3Pt), five rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals over 37 minutes during Wednesday's 118-113 loss to the Rockets.

Ball shot extremely well in this one but his contributions went beyond the scoring column, leaving his mark both as a playmaker and on defense. These stat-stuffing performances are nothing new for Ball, though, who's well regarded as one of the most versatile point guards in the league. His numbers back that up, as he's averaging 12.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.8 blocks per game this season.

Ball closed Monday's 109-77 loss to Indiana with zero points (0-7 FG, 0-4 3Pt), five rebounds, two assists and one block over 25 minutes.

Ball didn't have anything going for him in this contest and ended scoreless for the first time since joining Chicago, though this had already happened to him in the past. Ball will try to bounce back Wednesday when the Bulls take on the Rockets on the road.

Ball logged 27 points (10-13 FG, 7-10 3Pt), seven rebounds, eight assists and two steals over 38 minutes during Monday's 121-103 win over Los Angeles.

Against the team that drafted him, Ball went off for a season high in points and tied his campaign-best mark with seven three-pointers. Ball was scrutinized for his poor shooting during his two-year stint with Los Angeles, but he was on fire against the Lakers in the win, going 10-for-13 from the field. This could be the point guard's finest shooting night of the campaign, but even when he's less efficient Ball still puts up respectable all-around numbers, including 12.9 points, 5.4 boards, 4.6 assists, 3.1 treys and 1.9 steals.

Ball accumulated 21 points (7-14 FG, 7-10 3Pt), six rebounds, six assists and one steal in 39 minutes during Wednesday's 117-107 win over the Mavericks.

This was one of Ball's best games of the season, as the 21-point output was a season-high mark while his tallies of six boards and six assists were the second-best marks of the season in both categories. While scoring has never been his strong suit, and his value lies more on his ability to stuff the stat sheet on a nightly basis, Ball does have to find a way to score more points since he had gone six straight games with fewer than 15 points before breaking out in this one.

Ball had 11 points (4-12 FG, 3-7 3Pt), four rebounds and three assists over 30 minutes in a 118-95 win over the Nets on Monday night.

Ball has surpassed five assists in just one game thus far, perhaps a testament to the strong shot creation Demar Derozan and Zach LaVine have been capable of generating themselves. Ball has been a top-10 asset at the point guard position, but when lacking defensive contributions he sinks closer to top-20. The Bulls will face the Mavericks on Wednesday.

Ball notched 13 points (5-11 FG, 3-6 3Pt), five rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block across 33 minutes in Wednesday's loss against the Sixers.

Ball has never been a high-volume scorer, and the fact that he has surpassed the 15-point mark just once this season is perhaps the best example of that. He's not likely to become a better scorer any time soon, though, especially since he shares the offense with DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine. Fortunately for fantasy managers who rostered Ball, he does enough in other areas of the game to remain relevant across all formats. Through eight games, Ball is averaging 12.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.1 blocks across 34.4 minutes per tilt.

Ball closed with 11 points (4-11 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 2-2 FT), five rebounds, four steals and two assists in 33 minutes during Saturday's 107-99 victory over the Jazz.

Despite remaining quiet on the offensive end, Ball found a way to contribute, continuing what has been a nice start to the season. Typically the third or fourth option on offense, fantasy managers are going to have to deal with the fact that he is not going to put up sizeable scoring numbers on a nightly basis. His value lies with his ability to put up numbers across the board, something he has been doing in spades thus far.

Ball had six points (2-8 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 1-2 FT), six rebounds, four assists, and a block in 33 minutes on Thursday, as the Bulls fell to the Knicks 104-103.

Ball failed to reach double-digit scoring for the first time this season. With many mouths to feed in the Bulls' backcourt, Ball shareholders will likely have to accept nights like this occasionally. Normally these quieter performances will be accompanied by stronger defensive stats, making Thursday more of an outlier. He'll look to rebound against the Jazz on Saturday.

Ball mustered 15 points (5-11 FG, 5-9 3Pt), five assists, three rebounds, two steals and a block across 38 minutes in Monday's win over the Raptors.

Ball made most of his damage from beyond the arc and drained a season-high five treys, but he's impacting the game in more ways than just his scoring. He has emerged as a do-it-all player in Chicago's backcourt, and he is now averaging 14.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.8 blocks per game through four appearances.

Ball recorded 17 points (6-11 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 10 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and one block across 35 minutes during a 128-112 win versus New Orleans.

Ball exacted some revenge against the team that traded him to Chicago. He has eight triple-doubles across serviceable tenures among three different NBA franchises. Considering the consistency, Ball's fantasy owners should not worry despite him playing alongside more scorers and better rebounders now.

Ball scored 12 points (5-12 FG, 2-6 3Pt) to go along with six rebounds, four assists and one block across 33 minutes of Wednesday's season-opening win over the Pistons.

Ball shot somewhat efficiently but was less active than usual as a playmaker. After arriving in Chicago in the offseason, the 23-year-old could need some time to adjust to his new teammates playing styles and gain chemistry with them. Zach LaVine ended up handling the ball more on the offensive end, but we will have more of a glimpse into what Ball's role will be as the season gets into gear.

Ball recorded 19 points (7-9 FG, 5-6 3Pt), five rebounds, four assists, two rebounds and one block with no turnovers in 25 minutes during Friday's 121-85 preseason victory over the Pelicans.

Ball put on an excellent two-way performance. The Bulls' new point guard shot efficiently, took care of the ball and played good defense. While he's a relatively low-usage offensive player, Ball will occasionally have a big game through these kinds of statlines.

Ball posted eight points (3-8 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 0-2 FT), five rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks in 26 minutes during Tuesday's 131-95 preseason win over the Cavaliers.

Ball seemed plenty comfortable in a new offense, and he's was especially active defensively against a sloppy Cavaliers team. Over the past two seasons, Ball has averaged 13.2 points, 6.3 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 0.6 blocks -- numbers that fantasy managers can continue to expect from the 23-year-old point guard.

Ball is expected to make his Bulls debut in Tuesday's preseason game against the Cavaliers, NBC Sports Chicago reports.

While a number of veterans around the league have already been ruled out of their respective preseason openers, Ball will be on the floor Tuesday as the Bulls look to build chemistry with their new core, which also features Nikola Vucevic, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. Coach Billy Donovan has spoken highly of his new starting point guard, whose passing will be valued on a roster that features a number of score-first players. "He loves to play," Donovan said of Ball. "I think he'll continue to get better at getting to the basket, finishing at the rim, getting to the free-throw line. He's really cerebral. He's got great awareness. I've always said this about him: He's a guy I think guys enjoy playing with because of the way he passes."

Ball has agreed to a four-year, $85 million deal with the Bulls in a sign-and-trade with the Pelicans. Chicago will send Tomas Satoransky, Garrett Temple and a second-round pick to New Orleans, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

The Bulls continue to push into win-now mode, inking Ball to a significant contract after trading for Nikola Jokic at the deadline last season. Ball is coming off a nice two-year stint with the Pelicans in which he averaged 13.1 points, 6.4 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 32.0 minutes per game. He also made 2.7 threes per contest at a 37.6 percent clip. He should play a similar role with the Bulls as the team's starting point guard, helping facilitate the ball to talented scorers Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic.

Ball was extended a qualifying offer by the Pelicans on Saturday, making him a restricted free agent, Andrew Lopez of ESPN.com reports.

As expected, the Pelicans will do what they can to potentially retain Ball. However, he figures to have several suitors in free agency, so there's a chance he's given an offer that the Pelicans feel uncomfortable matching. Ball averaged 14.6 points, 5.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game last season. Notably, he's been boasting an improved three-pointer. Over the past two seasons, Ball has made 2.7 threes per game at a 37.6 percent clip.

Ball (thumb) is out for Sunday's finale against the Lakers.

Ball will sit out a third straight game with a strained right thumb to end the year. He concludes his second season in New Orleans with averages of 14.6 points, 5.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 31.8 minutes. The expectation is for Ball to have a variety of suitors in the offseason as a restricted free agent.

Ball (thumb) will not play Friday against Golden State, Andrew Lopez of ESPN.com reports.

Ball will miss his second game in a row due to a right thumb strain. With just one game remaining after Friday, the 23-year-old guard could be done for the year.

Ball has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Mavericks due to a right thumb strain.

Ball had been quite productive recently, as he averaged 19.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 35.0 minutes per game across his last six appearances. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kira Lewis could see increased run Wednesday.

Ball collected 12 points (5-7 FG, 2-2 3Pt), eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal in a 115-110 loss to the Grizzlies on Monday.

Ball was much more efficient with his scoring chances and continued his stretch of consistent all-around stat lines. The guard had shot just 31.2 percent from the field in the two games prior to Monday's contest, so it was good to see him knock down some shots. Ball has averaged an impressive 17.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 2.0 steals across his last 10 games.

Ball recorded 18 points (6-18 FG, 4-13 3Pt, 2-4 FT), seven rebounds, three assists and two steals over 34 minutes Friday in the 109-107 loss to the 76ers.

Ball has up-and-down over his last four games, scoring 33, seven, 33 and 18 respectively. Where Ball's consistency has hurt him in that span has been the turnovers, committing 17 of them. He has made his presence felt on the glass, grabbing at least six rebounds in seven straight contests. Up next for the Pelicans is a trip to Charlotte to take on the Hornets on Sunday.

Ball registered 33 points (11-23 FG, 7-13 3Pt, 4-4 FT), six rebounds, four assists and a steal across 34 minutes in Tuesday's win over the Warriors.

Ball has had a few ups and downs of late but has scored 33 points in two of his last three appearances, and he's cleared the 15-point plateau -- while also contributing heavily in the assists and rebounds categories -- in five of his last seven games. He's averaging 15.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game in 11 appearances since returning from injury.

Ball (thumb) will be available Tuesday against the Warriors, Andrew Lopez of ESPN reports.

Ball picked up a sprained thumb during Monday's blowout loss, but after testing it in warmups he's been given the green light to play on the second half of the back-to-back. Ball had one this worst shooting nights of the season Monday, hitting just 1-of-9 three-point attempts and going 3-of-18 from the field overall.

Ball is listed as questionable for Tuesday's rematch against the Warriors due to a sprained right thumb.

Ball picked up a sprained thumb during Monday's blowout loss to the Warriors, which may partially explain why he went just 3-of-18 from the field en route to seven points in 38 minutes. There's hope that Ball can play through the injury on the second half of the back-to-back set, but the Pelicans likely won't make a final call until close to game-time.

Ball registered seven points (3-18 FG, 1-9 3Pt), eight assists, seven rebounds and two steals in 37 minutes during Monday's 123-108 loss to the Warriors.

The 23-year-old followed up Saturday's incredible 33-point performance with seven points on 18 shots. Ball's scoring has been a roller coaster lately, as he's posted six, 24, 18, 16, six, 33, and seven points over his last seven games, respectively. The fourth-year guard will look to bounce back shooting-wise Tuesday at home against the Warriors.

Ball had 33 points (10-21 FG, 8-17 3Pt, 5-6 FT), 11 rebounds, eight assists and three steals in Saturday's overtime win over the Timberwolves.

The extra five minutes helped, but it was still one of the best games of Ball's NBA career. He tied his season and career high with eight made threes and notched his first-ever 30-point game. For good measure, Ball tacked on 11 rebounds -- his second most in any game this season -- to go with his eight assists. Over the last five games, Ball has racked up 14 total steals.

Ball recorded 16 points (6-14 FG, 4-9 3Pt), 12 rebounds, 12 assists, four steals and two blocks across 36 minutes in Wednesday's loss against the Nuggets.

Ball led the Pelicans in every single major statistical category in this one -- excepting points -- en route to his first triple-double of the season. The 2017 first-round pick has scored at least 15 points in four of his last five games and has dished out at least seven dimes three times during that stretch, so he's undoubtedly trending in the right direction after missing 11 of 14 possible games between March 21 and April 14 due to injuries.

Ball had 18 points (7-14 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 1-2 FT), nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals across 38 minutes in Monday's win over the Clippers.

Ball was one of four New Orleans starters that surpassed the 15-point mark, but the point guard also paced the team in assists while finishing second in rebounds, so he delivered a complete effort across the board. Ball has now scored at least 15 points in three of his last four games while also finding ways to contribute steadily on the box score on a nightly basis. He's averaging 15.8 points, 6.5 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game during that four-game stretch.

Ball had 24 points (9-16 FG, 6-10 3Pt), four assists, two rebounds and two steals across 34 minutes in Saturday's loss against the Spurs.

Ball had scored six or fewer points in three of his first four appearances since returning from a four-game absence, but he broke out in a big way here and posted his first 20-point game since April 4, when he had 27 points against the Rockets. Plus, the six threes made are tied for his third-best mark of the season in that particular category.

Ball registered six points (2-8 FG, 2-5 3Pt), 12 assists, four rebounds and one block in 24 minutes during Thursday's 135-100 win over the Magic.

The 23-year-old's 12 assists were the most he's doled out since March 16. Ball's fantasy production has been mediocre since his return from a four-game absence due to left hip soreness, averaging just 7.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists, but he should be better moving forward now that he is no longer on a minutes restriction. The fourth-year guard will look to build on Thursday's impressive 12-assist performance Saturday at home against the Spurs.

Ball said at Tuesday's shootaround that Tuesday's game against Brooklyn in his last game on a minutes limit.

Ball has struggled in his last two games since returning from a hip injury, shooting 4-of-19 from the field across a total of 47 minutes. "It's been tough. Coming in and out (of the game) is not what I like, but tonight is the last night on (a minute restriction)," he said. "Then I'm pretty much free after that." Ball wasn't overly limited in Sunday's loss to New York, as he played 27 minutes, but it's a bit below his season average of 31.3 minutes per contest.

Ball had just five points (2-9 FG, 1-5 3Pt), seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in Sunday's overtime loss to the Knicks.

Playing in his second straight game following a four-game absence, Ball remained on a soft minutes limit (27 minutes) and was unable to get anything going offensively. Over the last two games, Ball is now a combined 4-of-19 from the field and 1-of-12 from beyond the arc.

Ball posted four points (2-10 FG, 0-7 3Pt), three assists, two rebounds, one steal and two blocks in Friday's overtime loss to the Wizards.

Making his return after a four-game absence, Ball was playing under a restriction and held to 20 minutes as the starting point guard. Ball struggled mightily from the field, misfiring on all seven of his three-point attempts and finishing as a game-worst minus-17 in the 117-115 loss.

Ball (hip) will be on an unspecified minutes limit for Friday's game against the Wizards, Andrew Lopez of ESPN.com reports.

Ball will be back in action after a four-game absence, but his workload will be limited. There's a strong chance he returns to the starting five.

Ball (hip) said he'll play Friday against the Wizards, Andrew Lopez of ESPN.com reports.

The 23-year-old was considered probable for Friday after missing the past four games with a hip injury, but he confirmed his availability at the morning shootaround. Ball should rejoin the starting five but could face some limitations since he's appeared in only three games since March 18.

Ball (hip) is listed as probable for Friday's game against the Wizards.

Ball looks like he will likely return from a four-game absence in Friday's game. In his last three games prior to the hip injury, Ball had been averaging 18.0 points on 40.9 percent shooting, 7.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 4.3 triples and 2.3 steals per game.

Ball (hip) is out Wednesday against the Knicks, Steve Popper of Newsday reports.

As expected, Ball will miss a fourth straight game while recovering from left hip soreness. Eric Bledsoe, Isaiah Thomas and Kira Lewis remain candidates to see extra run.

Ball (hip) is doubtful for Wednesday's contest against the Knicks.

Ball will likely miss a fourth straight contest due to left hip soreness. In his place, Eric Bledsoe, Naji Marshall, Isaiah Thomas and Kira Lewis remain candidates to see extra run.

Ball (hip) will not play in Monday's game against the Kings.

Ball's sore left hip will keep him out of a third straight game as the Pelicans play on the second night of a back-to-back set. The issue kept Ball out for seven straight games from March 21 through April 2, but he'd looked good in three games back before tweaking the hip against Brooklyn on Wednesday. For now, the Pelicans appear to be handling Ball's status on a game-to-game basis as they embark on a four-game Week 17.

Ball (hip) won't play Sunday against the Cavaliers, Andrew Lopez of ESPN.com reports.

Ball will miss a second consecutive game as he continues to deal with left hip flexor soreness. With Nickeil Alexander-Walker (ankle) also sidelined, Isaiah Thomas and Kira Lewis should see increased run in the Pelicans' backcourt as long as Ball remains out.

Ball (hip) won't play Friday against Philadelphia, Christian Clark of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Ball had been back on the court during the past three games and had averaged 31.3 minutes per contest during that time, but he's now dealing with a left hip issue. Isaiah Thomas and Kira Lewis should see increased run for the Pelicans with Ball unavailable Friday.

Ball (hip) is questionable for Friday's game against the 76ers, Will Guillory of The Athletic reports.

Ball recently missed seven games due to right hip issue, and it looks like he's now dealing with soreness in the left hip. If Ball misses Friday's game, Isaiah Thomas could potentially find himself playing significant minutes.

Ball recorded 15 points (6-11 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three assists and a steal across 28 minutes in Wednesday's loss against the Nets.

Ball struggled from the field in this one and was particularly woeful from deep, as he ended a streak of five games draining three or more treys with his 1-for-6 showing from beyond the arc. The 2017 first-round pick has scored in double digits in six games in a row while also dishing out eight or more assists four times in that stretch. This was far from his best showing, but it's undeniable that Ball is trending in the right direction over the last few weeks.

Ball provided 12 points (4-15 FG, 4-14 3Pt), 11 assists, nine rebounds, three steals and two blocks in 30 minutes during Tuesday's 123-107 loss to the Hawks.

Ball was once again hyper-aggressive from beyond the arc Tuesday, and he's now taken 29 threes over the past two games, making 12. While he wasn't efficient Tuesday, he nearly recorded a triple-double while committing just one turnover and playing strong defense. Ball has recorded at least five assists in seven straight appearances. He's also recorded at least one steal in each of those games.

Ball went for 27 points (8-18 FG, 8-15 3Pt, 3-3 FT), nine assists, four rebounds and three steals in Sunday's win over Houston.

Making his return after missing a stretch of games, Ball was back in the starting lineup and played a full workload (37 minutes). He set a new season high in made three-pointers while posting his third-highest single-game assists total. Ball did commit six turnovers, but overall it was an incredibly encouraging performance in his first action since March 18.

Ball (hip) will play in Sunday's game against the Rockets, Will Guillory of The Athletic reports.

Following a string of seven consecutive absences, Ball will make his return to action Sunday night, and he won't face a minutes restriction, per coach Stan Van Gundy. In his five healthy games since the All-Star break, Ball averaged 11.8 points, 8.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 3.0 made three-pointers in 31.2 minutes per contest.

Ball (hip) is questionable for Sunday's matchup against the Rockets.

The trio of Ball, Brandon Ingram (toe) and Zion Williamson (thumb) could all return Sunday for a Pelicans team that's been extremely shorthanded lately. If that's the case, Ball could be on a minutes limit since he's been out since March 21.

Ball (hip) is out Friday against the Hawks.

Ball, Brandon Ingram (toe), Zion Williamson (thumb) and Josh Hart (thumb) are all sidelined for Friday's game. Coach Stan Van Gundy will have to reach deep into his bench or play his top crew heavy minutes. During Thursday's game, Eric Bledsoe saw 46 minutes while James Johnson played 28 minutes and Wes Iwundu played 20 minutes.

Ball (hip) will not play in Thursday's game against Orlando.

Ball appears to be making incremental progress as he deals with a strained right hip, but he'll miss yet another game as the Pelicans enter a Thursday/Friday back-to-back set. Expect Nickeil Alexander-Walker to continue starting at point guard so long as Ball remains sidelined.

Ball (hip) is questionable for Thursday's matchup against the Magic.

A strained right hip has kept Ball out for five straight games, but he may return Thursday. If he does, Nickeil Alexander-Walker would presumably move out of the starting lineup.

Ball (hip) has officially been ruled out for Monday's matchup with the Celtics.

It was previously reported that Ball was trending towards doubtful, so this news is relatively unsurprising. The absence will mark his fifth straight due to a strained right hip. His next chance to return will now come Thursday against the Magic.

Coach Stan Van Gundy implied that Ball (hip) is unlikely to play Monday against the Celtics, Andrew Lopez of ESPN reports.

Ball is technically listed as questionable, but Van Gundy said he's not optimistic about the guard's chances to take the floor Monday night. Ball has already missed the last four games with a strained right hip, and if he doesn't play Monday, he'll set his sights on a possible return Thursday versus Orlando.

Ball (hip) is questionable for Monday's game against the Celtics.

Ball was ruled out for each of the Pelicans' games over the weekend after experiencing a setback with his strained hip flexor Thursday, but he could be back in action against Boston. If he's unable to play, Nickel Alexander-Walker could start for New Orleans once again.

Ball (hip) is expected to miss Friday's and Saturday's games against the Nuggets and Mavericks, Will Guillory of The Athletic reports.

The 23-year-old suffered a setback with his strained hip flexor at Thursday's practice, so he's set to sit out Friday's and Saturday's contests. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is poised for more starts at the point with Ball's absence stretching to four games this weekend.

Ball (hip) is questionable for Friday's game against the Nuggets.

Ball was unable to finish Thursday's practice after apparently aggravating his strained right hip flexor. However, he'll still carry the same injury designation ahead of Friday's matchup. If Ball is held out for a third straight game, Nickeil Alexander-Walker should see increased run for the Pelicans once again.

Ball removed himself midway through Thursday's practice after apparently aggravating his strained right hip flexor, Christian Clark of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

The injury had sidelined Ball for the Pelicans' last two games, and his inability to make it through the session doesn't bode well for his chances of making it back for Friday's game against the Nuggets. Of course, Ball may not even be a member of the Pelicans by that point, as New Orleans has been rumored to be engaging in discussions with other teams about moving the point guard ahead of Thursday's deadline. Nickeil Alexander-Walker would continue to see extended run at the point if Ball misses more time or is dealt elsewhere.

Ball (hip) is unavailable for Tuesday's game against the Lakers.

The 23-year-old will be sidelined for the second consecutive game due to a right hip flexor strain. Nickeil Alexander-Walker will receive another start at the point for New Orleans in Ball's absence.

Ball (hip) is listed as questionable for Tuesday's game against the Lakers.

A strained hip kept Ball out of Sunday's game against the Nuggets, enabling Nickeil Alexander-Walker to enter the starting five at point guard. The hope is that Ball will be able to return to the mix Tuesday, but the Pels will wait to see how the hip responds over the next 24 hours.

Ball (hip) will not play Sunday against the Nuggets.

Ball will miss his first game since Jan. 17 due to a right hip flexor strain. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kira Lewis will likely enjoy extra minutes for Sunday's game.

Ball (hip) is a game-time decision for Sunday's game against Denver, Jim Eichenhofer of the Pelicans' official site reports.

Ball's status for Sunday's game remains uncertain less than two hours before tipoff, according to coach Stan Van Gundy. If the 23-year-old is unable to play, Nickel Alexander-Walker and Kira Lewis would likely be looking at increased workloads.

Ball is questionable for Sunday's matchup against the Nuggets due to a right hip flexor strain.

Ball hasn't missed a game since Jan. 17, and he's been on a roll lately. This month, he's averaged 13.0 points, 7.1 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 threes and 1.3 steals in 31.5 minutes. If he sits Sunday, more minutes would be available for Kira Lewis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

Ball compiled 15 points (6-15 FG, 3-11 3Pt), eight assists, four rebounds, a steal and a blocked shot across 38 minutes in Thursday's 101-93 loss to the Trail Blazers.

Rather than discuss Ball's performance in this game, it's more important to note what's happening in the rumor mill regarding Ball's future with the team. Lonzo Ball's father, LaVar Ball, is making a stink in the press. In a call to ESPN Radio on Thursday, Ball stated that he wanted his son out of New Orleans. There was already some chatter that the Pelicans were ready to move on with Nickeil Alexander-Walker, but Ball's comments are adding fuel to the fire. Savvy fantasy managers should think about adding Alexander-Walker if he's available in case a Ball trade comes to pass, but the Pelicans would need a sweet deal to make this happen.

Ball recorded 11 points (4-8 FG, 3-7 3Pt), three rebounds, 17 assists and two steals during 35 minutes in the 125-124 loss to Portland on Tuesday.

Ball was incredible in the close loss Tuesday. The guard may not have had his best night on the floor. However, his vision and movement was at an all time best. Ball has now set a new career high in assists (17) surpassing his previous career high (15). It is quite a feat for any player to come short of eclipsing 20 assists in one performance. Ball has been up and down in terms of points this season, but continues to produce elsewhere consistently. Until he drops form, he is a great option at guard.

Ball tallied 20 points (7-10 FG, 5-8 3Pt, 1-1 FT), eight rebounds, five assists and a steal across 30 minutes Sunday in a 135-115 win over the Clippers.

Ball bounced back from a rough three-point effort his last time out with one of his most efficient shooting performances of the season. The fourth-year pro also chipped in eight boards and five dimes to complete a solid all-around stat line. While Ball's rebound and assist numbers are down a tad this season, he has shown marked improvement as a scorer. The point guard is on pace for career highs in points (14.3), three-pointers (3.0), field-goal percentage (42.5 percent), free-throw percentage (76.7 percent) and three-point percentage (38.8 percent).

Ball accumulated 12 points (5-10 FG, 2-6 3Pt), five assists, three steals, one block and one rebound in 26 minutes during Wednesday's 128-124 loss to the Bulls.

The Pelicans were down heading into the fourth but rallied big, scoring 45 points to make the game close. However, Ball wasn't on the court for it, as coach Stan Van Gundy entrusted Eric Bledsoe with late-game minutes. The result was a muted statline from Ball and his fewest minutes played since Feb. 3 in a blowout win over the Suns. That said, Ball has been playing well since February. He's scored in double-digits every game and has averaged 16.6 points, 5.6 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 32.8 minutes. He's also made 3.6 threes per game on 45.9 percent shooting from deep.

Ball recorded 23 points (9-16 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 2-2 FT), eight assists, seven rebounds and two blocks in the Pelican's 129-124 victory over the Jazz on Monday.

Ball had another strong two-way performance. After scoring in double figures every game in February, the guard started the new month by scoring his second highest point total of the season. Ball has been a reliable third option for New Orleans this season, look for that to continue as we approach the second half of the year.

Ball scored 16 points (6-17 FG, 3-12 3Pt, 1-1 FT) to go along with four rebounds and four assists across 36 minutes in Saturday's loss to the Spurs.

Ball had a strong 21.4 percent usage rate, but struggled mightily with his shot. The performance derailed what had otherwise been a hot stretch for Ball, as he had nailed an average of 4.4 threes on 51.2 percent shooting in his last five games. Even with the down performance, Ball is still averaging a career-best 14.5 points across 30 contests this season.

Ball had 20 points (7-14 FG, 6-10 3Pt) and eight assists in Thursday's loss to Milwaukee.

While the Pelicans came up short, Ball had another strong individual performance, hitting six three-pointers and tallying eight assists for the second straight night. In the month of February, Ball is averaging 16.6 points, 5.6 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 3.8 made three-pointers, making him one of the most valuable guards in fantasy basketball during that span. Over his last 20 games, Ball is shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 43.9 percent from beyond the arc.

Ball scored 12 points (4-8 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 2-2 FT) to go along with six rebounds, eight assists and three steals across 35 minutes in Wednesday's win over the Pistons.

Ball saw a downturn in his scoring as both Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson paced the team. However, he found other ways to produce and recorded at least eight assists for only the fourth time this season. He also continued to produce on the defensive end of the floor, tallying at least one steal for the fifth consecutive contest.

Ball registered 16 points (5-11 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 3-4 FT), six rebounds, four assists and two steals Sunday, in an overtime victory over the Celtics.

Ball continued his consistent play in a wild Pelicans' comeback. Ball has now scored at least 12 points in every game in February and has averaged 16.7 points, 5.3 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game over that stretch. His success from three has been key to his strong play of late as he is shooting 47.2 percent from distance this month.

Ball racked up 21 points (6-13 FG, 6-12 3Pt, 3-4 FT), 12 assists, three steals, two blocks and a rebound across 36 minutes in Friday's loss against the Suns.

Ball has scored 21 points in back-to-back games, marking the first time he's posted consecutive games with at least 20 points in the current campaign. Ball also posted a season-high mark in assists and excelled as a playmaking threat, but it was the first time he racked up double-digit assists in the current campaign, so expecting that kind of output from him on a regular basis might be a stretch. He has been scoring at a decent clip, though, and he has posted at least 12 points in 11 straight games.

Ball had 21 points (7-14 FG, 5-10 3Pt, 2-2 FT), five assists, two rebounds and a steal in Wednesday's loss to the Blazers.

In a team-high 36 minutes, Ball drained five three-pointers, extending his streak with multiple threes to 10 straight games. Ball remains one of the league's most free-throw-averse players, but he has as many attempts in his last five games combined (nine) as in his previous 15 contests.

Ball had 13 points (5-12 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 1-2 FT), five assists, three rebounds and two steals in 27 minutes during Tuesday's 144-113 win over the Grizzlies.

The performance breaks a streak of seven games in which the 23-year-old made at least three three-pointers, though he's still scored in double figures in nine straight contests. Ball has attempted between 11 and 13 shots in each game as his workload remains consistent game-to-game.

Ball supplied 12 points (4-12 FG, 4-10 3Pt), seven assists, six rebounds and a block across 32 minutes in Friday's loss against the Mavericks.

Ball struggled from the field once again, and as it has been the case all season long, the Pelicans found themselves on the losing end of the game when Ball has a poor offensive output. He ended a streak of five straight contests scoring at least 15 points, and while Ball still delivers value due to his ability to stuff the stat sheet on a nightly basis, his offensive struggles and inconsistencies certainly conspire against his upside.

Ball had 21 points (6-13 FG, 4-10 3Pt, 5-5 FT), seven assists, five rebounds and two steals across 34 minutes in Wednesday's loss against the Bulls.

Ball scored in double figures for the sixth straight games -- his longest streak of the season -- and also reached the 20-point plateau for the third time in the campaign, a feat he's accomplished all three times across his last eight appearances. His seven-assist total was one shy of tying his season-high mark as well, so this was undoubtedly one of Ball's best performances of the season from a statistical point of view.

Ball tallied 16 points (6-11 FG, 4-6 3Pt), seven rebounds, seven assists, a steal and a blocked shot across 30 minutes in Saturday's 119-108 win over the Grizzlies.

When Ball's shooting stroke is firing on all cylinders, the guard is difficult to contain. He matched his backcourt teammate Eric Bledsoe with four three-pointers of his own in the win and filled up the ancillary categories along the way as well.

Ball went for 20 points (7-13 FG, 5-9 3Pt, 1-2 FT), nine rebounds, three assists and one block across 35 minutes during Friday's 114-113 win over the Pacers.

Ball has been on fire shooting the ball in his last two outings, making 53.8 of his shots and 56.2 percent of his three-pointers. He also notched his second 20-point performance of the season while collecting a season-high nine boards. For a point guard, however, Ball's assists numbers are low. Among point guards, he is ranked 25th in assists per game with 4.5.

Ball collected 18 points (7-13 FG, 4-7 3Pt), six rebounds and one assist in a victory over the Suns on Wednesday.

Ball's 18 points tied his second-highest mark of the campaign, as did his four three-pointers. Fantasy managers who roster the point guard undoubtedly expect more dimes, but anytime you can get an efficient shooting night from Ball, it is a small victory. The former UCLA Bruin is shooting 40.8 percent from the field and 33.9 percent from deep this season, so Wednesday's performance should be looked at as more of an aberration than an expectation. Ball's percentages (he is also shooting only 64.3 percent from the charity stripe) limit his fantasy value, though there is some worth in his respectable peripheral stats (3.9 boards, 4.6 dimes and 1.5 steals per contest).

Ball had seven points (3-8 FG, 1-6 3PT), eight rebounds, four assists and three steals in Saturday's loss to the Rockets.

Ball's anemic play this season continued on Saturday, as he came back down to earth after a big game (27 points, seven threes) in Friday's win over Milwaukee. Since returning from a three-game injury absence on Jan. 19, Ball is averaging 12.5 points, 5.3 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals over his last six games. During that stretch, he's shooting 40.8 percent from the field and 34.0 percent from three. He has not attempted a free throw in five consecutive games.

Ball finished with 27 points (10-20 FG, 7-13 3Pt), eight assists, three boards, and one steal in 35 minutes of a 131-126 win against the Bucks on Friday.

Ball matched a career best night by draining seven shots from deep in the contest. Ball's eight assists also represented the most assists he's had this month, as he bounced back from a rough outing in the previous game. He'll face the Rockets on Saturday.

Ball (ankle) is starting Friday's game against Milwaukee.

Ball was limited to just 16 minutes on the floor Wednesday after he tweaked his ankle during the game, but he'll be able to return against the Bucks. He isn't expected to have any playing time restrictions in Friday's matchup. Over the last four contests, Ball is averaging 10.3 points and 5.0 assists over 24.0 minutes per game.

Ball (ankle) is listed as questionable for Friday's game against the Bucks.

Ball tweaked his right ankle during Wednesday's win over the Wizards, limiting him to just 16 minutes of action. The hope is that the injury is not something that will cost him any time, but the Pelicans will wait to see how he progresses throughout the day Thursday.

Ball is questionable to return to Wednesday's game against the Wizards due to a right ankle injury, Jennifer Hale of Fox Sports New Orleans reports.

The 23-year-old had nine points (3-8 FG, 3-7 3Pt), four assists, two rebounds, two steals and one block in 16 minutes before suffering the injury during the second quarter. Nickeil Alexander-Walker should see increased run while Ball is sidelined.

Ball won't play Monday after the Pelicans' game against the Spurs was postponed, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

The NBA released a statement indicating that neither team had the required eight players to participate in Monday's clash, resulting in the move to postpone. The Pelicans' next chance to take the court will be Wednesday against the Wizards.

Ball posted seven points (3-10 FG, 0-6 3Pt, 1-2 FT), a rebound, four assists and three steals across 23 minutes in Tuesday's loss at Utah.

Ball returned from a three-game absence and, while he worked as one of the Pelicans' main playmaking threats, his shot was rusty and only made three of his 10 field-goal attempts. The shooting woes are real for Ball, though, as he's shooting just 38.7 percent from the field this season while making only 28.2 percent of his three-point attempts. Both figures are a decrease compared to what he did last season.

Ball (knees) will start Tuesday's game at Utah and will have an unspecified minutes restriction, Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune reports.

The 23-year-old missed the past three games and won't handle a full workload upon his return to the court. Ball is averaging 12.4 points, 4.4 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 33.4 minutes this season, but he seems unlikely to crack 30 minutes Wednesday.

Ball (knee) was upgraded to probable for Tuesday's game against the Jazz.

Ball looks like he has a good chance to return from a three-game absence as he was upgraded to probable and had previously said he had plans to play Tuesday. The 23-year-old guard's potential return would likely heavily cut into the value of Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

Ball (knee) is questionable for Tuesday's game at Utah.

The 23-year-old was able to take part in Monday's practice and said he plans to play Tuesday, but for now his status is officially up in the air. Nickeil Alexander-Walker likely will receive another start at the point should Ball be unable to suit up against the Jazz.

Ball (knee) was a full participant at Monday's practice, Andrew Lopez of ESPN.com reports.

The 23-year-old has been sidelined the past three games by knee tendinitis, and his return to practice Monday is a step toward retaking the court. Coach Stan Van Gundy said the team will need to see how Ball's knee responds from the practice work before determining his status for Tuesday's matchup with Utah.

Ball (knee) did not practice Saturday and coach Stan Van Gundy noted that Ball will likely be out "days or a week," Daniel Sallerson of the Pelicans Radio Network reports.

Ball clearly won't be playing Sunday against the Kings, but we can't quite rule him out yet ahead of Tuesday's contest against the Jazz. In his absence, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has drawn two starts, averaging 24.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 26.5 minutes. Eric Bledsoe also figures to see an expanded role, though he came off the bench Friday against the Lakers in his return from an eye injury and posted only seven points, two assists, one rebound and one block in 20 minutes.

Ball (knee) is out for Friday's game against the Lakers, Will Guillory of The Athletic reports.

Ball was ruled out one day ahead of time and will miss his second game in a row due to bilateral knee tendinopathy. The 23-year-old guard's absence will likely give Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kira Lewis bigger roles. Alexander-Walker went off for 37 points in Wednesday's loss to the Clippers.

Ball won't play in Wednesday's game against the Clippers with a knee injury.

This is the first news that surfaced regarding a possible absence for Ball, as the guard will miss Wednesday's contest with bilateral knee tendinopathy. With Eric Bledsoe deemed questionable as well against the Clippers, Nickeil Alexander-Walker will presumably start and see a major increase in minutes.

Ball won't play Monday after the Pelicans' game against the Mavericks was postponed, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

The Mavs do not have the requisite number of players for Monday's game to take place, so it will be made up at a later date. The Pelicans appear to be free of any COVID issues, so Wednesday's game against the Clippers should go on as scheduled.

Ball had a season-high 18 points (7-11 FG, 4-6 3PT), six rebounds and six assists in Monday's loss to the Pacers.

Ball has been up-and-down to begin the season, but this was one of his more well-rounded performances. The fourth-year guard is yet to score 20 points in any game this season, due in part to his aversion to getting to the free throw line. Through seven games (32.4 MPG), Ball has made just nine trips to the line -- six of those came on opening night.

Ball collected 16 points (7-15 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 0-1 FT), nine assists, eight rebounds and one steal over 32 minutes in Thursday's 113-80 win over the Thunder.

Ball struggled mightily in Tuesday's loss to Phoenix, but he was much more productive in Thursday's blowout win. He committed a team-high three turnovers, but he sniffed at a triple-double while finishing second on the team in playing time. The 23-year-old has been inconsistent early in the year, but he's now scored 16 points in three of the first five games of the 2020-21 campaign.

Ball posted seven points (3-12 FG, 1-7 3Pt) and an assist across 23 minutes in Tuesday's 111-86 loss to the Suns.

Ball suffered through a dreadful night of shooting in the blowout loss. The Pelicans depend on long-range shots and Ball's performance contributed to the team's horrid 12.5-percent conversion rate from beyond the arc. The deep ball is an essential part of the Pelicans' offensive gameplan, and they'll need better nights from Ball to stay relevant.

Ball recorded 16 points (7-14 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 1-2 FT), eight rebounds, five assists and five steals in a win over the Spurs on Sunday.

Ball marked his highest steal tally since Dec. 20 last year. Most of Ball's offense came in the middle quarters, when he recorded 11 points (5-6 FG, 1-1 3Pt) and four assists across 16 minutes. His fantasy value during this campaign will depend on two-way production like it did last season. Ball's current averages consist of 12.7 points, 4.3 assists and 2.7 steals through three games.

Ball had six points (2-8 FG, 2-8 3PT), six assists and two rebounds in Friday's loss to the Heat.

After a strong showing on opening night, Ball came back down to earth Friday, hitting just two of his eight attempts from three in 33 minutes. Ball failed to get to the free throw line after drawing six attempts in the opener.

Ball recorded 16 points (4-9 FG, 4-8 3PT, 4-6 FT) to go along with five rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks across 29 minutes Wednesday against the Raptors.

All of Ball's baskets in the course of play came from behind the three-point line, a continuation of his improvement in that area. However, Eric Bledsoe seemingly cut into his ability to initiate the offense, as Ball managed only two assists in comparison to Bledsoe's six. Ball and the Pelicans will take the court next on Friday against the Heat.

Ball and the Pelicans have not agreed on a rookie extension, so Ball will become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2021, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

Ball and the Pelicans will let the extension deadline pass, but Wojnarowski notes that the two sides remain positive about their ability to eventually reach a deal. Ball will play out the 2020-21 season on his rookie deal and will hit restricted free agency in the summer. At that point, the Pelicans will have the opportunity to match any offers Ball receives from another franchise.

Ball is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's finale against the Magic, Will Guillory of The Athletic reports.

With the Pelicans mathematically eliminated from postseason contention, the team will roll with Frank Jackson as the starter. Coach Alvin Gentry also said Thursday that he'll likely rest Ball for the entire game, per Guillory, signalling the end of the season for the UCLA product.

Ball registered 16 points (5-9 FG, 4-6 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four assists, three rebounds and two blocks in 29 minutes during Tuesday's loss to the Kings.

Ball was the only regular starter that was named in the starting lineup for Tuesday's contest, and the former Lakers guard delivered his first double-digit scoring performance in the bubble. Prior to this game he was averaging just 5.7 points while shooting 26 percent from the field, so Ball perhaps got an extended run on the court to see if he could get out of the slump before the Pelicans' season ended next Thursday against the Magic.

Ball finished with five points (2-10 FG, 0-4 3PT, 1-1 FT), 10 assists, five rebounds and two blocks in Sunday's loss to San Antonio.

Ball added some decent complementary numbers, but he once again struggled from the field, as has been the case for most of the last six games. Since seeding play began, Ball is just 5-of-26 from beyond the arc.

Ball posted nine points (4-7 FG, 1-4 3Pt), 11 assists, two rebounds, one steal and one block in 31 minutes during Thursday's 140-125 loss to the Kings.

Ball has yet to crack double-digit points in the bubble, but he set restart highs in points and assists. The performance was Ball's eighth this season with at least 11 dimes. His season high of 15 was set Jan. 26 against the Celtics.

Ball posted 12 points (5-11 FG, 2-7 3Pt), five rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block in 23 minutes during Monday's 124-103 scrimmage win over the Bucks.

Ball contributed across every category, making an impact on both ends of the court in the team's final scrimmage. Ball is abysmal when it comes to attacking the basket in half-court settings and rarely earns trips to the free-throw line. However, apart from his subpar free-throw percentage and attempts, Ball has become one of the league's more well-rounded players.

Ball had 18 points (7-13 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 0-1 FT), eight assists, five rebounds and two steals in Sunday's win over Minnesota.

It was another strong all-around effort for Ball, who was coming off of a 16-point, nine-rebound, eight assist effort in Friday's win over Miami. Ball's four three-pointers Sunday give him 21 over the last four contests.

Ball supplied 16 points (6-12 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 1-2 FT), nine rebounds, eight assists, a steal and a block in 36 minutes Friday during the Pelican's 110-104 win versus the Heat.

Ball has posted at least five assists and five rebounds in seven straight games. He has also gotten hot from distance, connecting on 17 of his last 28 three-point tries. Ball is averaging 23.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 2.7 steals through four games in March.

Ball ended with 25 points (9-19 FG, 7-11 3Pt), 11 rebounds, six assists, two steals and one block in 40 minutes during Wednesday's 127-123 loss to the Mavericks.

Ball matched his career-high with seven triples, once again flaunting his fantasy-friendly game. The Pelicans are pushing for a playoff spot and Ball is going to be getting heavy minutes, at least for the foreseeable future. Over the past month, Ball is flirting with first-round value and it appears he is finally beginning to put things together alongside a number of players who can be considered ball-dominant.

Ball accumulated 26 points (9-12 FG, 7-10 3Pt, 1-2 FT), eight assists, five rebounds, three steals and one block across 33 minutes during Tuesday's 139-134 loss to the Timberwolves.

Ball tied his season-high seven made threes in the fast-paced contest, and he was also a force defensively. With the performance, he also became just one of 14 players this season to post at least 26 points, eight assists, three steals and one block. Over Ball's past 10 outings, he's averaging 12.6 points, 8.5 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 34.5 minutes. Plus, he's shot 42.9 percent from distance.

Ball put up 19 points (7-15 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 4-6 FT), nine assists, nine rebounds, three steals and one block in 38 minutes during Sunday's loss to the Lakers.

Although Ball has been outside of the top 80 on the season in nine-category leagues, he's been a top 50 asset over the last two months after seeing a slight bump in play time, and increasing his assist output. He's not an efficient scorer, shooting just 39.9 percent from the field, and 58.1 percent from the line on the season, but the 22-year old is a beast at accumulating counting stats. As the Pelicans hunt for a playoff spot. Ball's role should be steady and reliable down the stretch.

Ball finished with 10 points (4-11 FG, 2-6 3Pt), eight rebounds and eight assists in 31 minutes during the Pelicans' 118-109 loss to the Lakers on Tuesday.

Ball took a hard fall to the floor after being emphatically blocked by Alex Caruso in the fourth quarter. However, he responded in a big way by nailing a transition three on the next possession. Racking up 16 cumulative assists and rebounds still represented the meat of Ball's output --- a figure that is attainable on a nightly basis for Ball in this role.

Ball posted two points (1-6 FG, 0-3 3Pt), nine assists, six rebounds and four steals across 27 minutes during Sunday's 115-101 victory over the Warriors.

Ball couldn't find his shot, but he was able to get his teammates involved and be active on defense. Sunday's effort marked the third time in Ball's career that he posted at least nine assists, six rebounds and four steals. Across eight February contests, he's averaging 10.9 points, 7.5 assists, 6.9 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.0 block in 35.5 minutes. He's also hitting 2.3 threes per contest at 39.1 percent his month.

Ball registered 15 points (6-11 FG, 3-5 3Pt), seven assists, four rebounds and one steal in 40 minutes during Friday's 128-115 win at Portland.

Ball's scoring numbers hasn't been very impressive and has topped the 15-point plateau just twice in his last 10 games, but he makes up for it with great passing numbers. The former Lakers rookie has dished out at least five dimes in five straight contests and continues to make an impact as a playmaking threat, averaging 8.1 dimes per game in his last 10 games.

Ball put up 16 points (5-9 FG, 5-8 3Pt, 1-1 FT), six rebounds, five assists and two blocks in 35 minutes during Thursday's loss to the Thunder.

Entering this game, Ball had posted double-digit assists in two out of his last three outings. He couldn't reach the double-figure mark this time, but still produced a strong fantasy line with good counting stats, while shooting 55.6 percent from the field, 62.5 percent from three and swishing his lone free-throw attempt. Ball has been playing at a top 40 level over the last two weeks, going for 12.7 points, 7.4 assists, 7.3 rebounds, 2.9 threes, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks per game, while shooting 50.0 percent from the field and 100 percent from the line during that span. The only downside is the 4.0 turnovers per game during that time period. After getting off to a somewhat slow start to the season, Ball has really found his rhythm on this Pelicans team as of late.

Ball recorded nine points (4-11 FG, 1-4 3Pt), 10 assists, six rebounds, one steal and one block in 34 minutes during Tuesday's 138-117 win over the Blazers.

Ball scored in double figures during 10 straight games from Dec. 25 to Jan. 13 and while his scoring numbers have been inconsistent since then, he seems to be turning things around with double-digit scoring efforts in four of his last six contests. That said, Ball offers value in other areas of the game as well to make up for his lack of scoring consistency. He is averaging 7.8 assists, 7.5 rebounds and a combined 2.3 steals/blocks per game during that aforementioned six-game stretch.

Ball had nine points (3-5 FG, 3-5 3Pt), 10 assists, three rebounds, three blocks and a steal in 33 minutes Thursday night during the Pelicans' win over the Bulls.

Ball was the only Pelican player to log more than 25 minutes in the contest, and he responded with a credible performance. His versatility is well-known, but owners still looking for consistency from Ball haven't seen it yet. Thursday's line resembles expected output from Ball were that to be his everyday role.

Ball scored 11 points (4-12 FG, 3-10 3Pt) while adding 14 rebounds, three assists and a block in 39 minutes during Tuesday's 120-108 loss to the Bucks.

The assists were his lowest total since Dec. 28, but Ball still delivered a solid fantasy line. With Zion Williamson now healthy, the Pelicans' offense is finally approaching its full capabilities, and Ball's role as distributor is on the rise -- in seven games with Zion in the lineup, the third-year point guard is averaging 10.9 points, 8.6 assists, 8.1 boards, 2.7 threes, 1.4 steals and 0.9 blocks.

Ball produced 10 points (3-7 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 11 rebounds, nine assists, three steals and two blocks in 37 minutes during Sunday's 117-109 loss to the Rockets.

Ball finished one assist shy of a triple-double while filling up the stat sheet and contributing across every category. He continues to display excellent chemistry with rookie phenom Zion Williamson, and oddly enough the team's last meeting against Houston (Dec. 29) happens to be the same date that Ball began his recent surge.

Ball contributed 19 points (7-10 FG, 5-7 3Pt), eight assists, six rebounds and one steal in 33 minutes during Friday's 139-111 win over the Grizzlies.

Ball has scored in double figures just twice during his last six outings, but he is doing enough in other areas of the game to supplement that lack of scoring -- he has dished out five or more dimes in every single game over that span. The former Laker is averaging 10.5 points, 8.8 assists, 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game during that six-game stretch.

Ball contributed eight points (3-10 FG, 2-9 3Pt), 15 assists, six rebounds, one steal and one block in 36 minutes during Sunday's 123-108 win over the Celtics.

Ball finished with a career high assist total while contributing across every statistical category. Despite his improvement as a shooter, defenses are still regularly leaving him wide open offensively with mixed results. Still, Ball is at least taking those shots and continues to showcase his versatile two-way skillset on a team that has empowered him to play the lead guard role.

Ball scored 18 points (7-16 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 0-1 FT) while adding 11 assists, 10 rebounds, two steals and a block in 39 minutes during Saturday's 133-130 loss to the Clippers.

The triple-double was the sixth of his career and his third of the season -- all of which have come in the last 10 games. Ball is averaging 17.1 points, 9.3 assists, 7.6 boards, 3.0 threes, 1.3 steals and 0.7 blocks over that stretch, and only his lackluster FG and FT percentages are keeping him from true fantasy superstardom.

Ball dished out 13 assists in 42 minutes during Thursday's 138-132 overtime win over the Jazz. He also had five points (2-12 FG, 1-5 3PT), four rebounds and two blocks.

Ball struggled badly with his shot but that shouldn't be surprising since he is making just 31.9 percent of his field goal attempts during his last five contests. However, he is averaging 10.0 assists per game during that span and he has recorded double-digit dimes in four of his last seven starts. Ball should remain fantasy relevant due to his playmaking and rebounding skills even if his shots stops falling altogether.

Ball contributed 17 points (7-23 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 0-2 FT), 12 rebounds, nine assists and three steals in 46 minutes during Monday's 117-110 overtime win against the Pistons.

Ball was extremely inefficient as a scorer while amassing nearly as many turnovers (seven) as assists. Still, he racked up no shortage of counting stats while leading the shorthanded Pelicans (without Brandon Ingram, Jrue Holiday and Derrick Favors, among others) to a surprising overtime win against the Pistons. It's possible that aforementioned trio will be ready to return for Thursday's matchup versus the Jazz, plus Zion Williamson (knee) is nearing his debut, but Ball seems to have turned a corner and is rewarding fantasy owners who were patient enough to hold onto him.

Ball posted 10 points (4-12 FG, 2-7 3Pt), 13 rebounds, nine assists and one block in 33 minutes during Saturday's 140-105 loss to the Celtics.

Ball finished with a season high in rebounding while nearing a triple-double, though he did amass more shot attempts than points. After failing to live up to the hype for the first couple months of 2019-20, Ball has been superb dating back to Dec. 29 versus Houston and seems to have hit his stride here in January.

Ball scored 15 points (6-14 FG, 3-7 3Pt) while adding 11 assists, six rebounds, a steal and a block in 38 minutes during Friday's 123-111 win over the Knicks.

The third-year point guard is on a roll, collecting two double-doubles and a triple-double in his last six games while averaging 20.2 points, 8.3 assists, 6.2 boards, 3.3 threes and 1.3 steals during that stretch. The Pels' offense is headed for a transformation once Zion Williamson (knee) is ready to make his debut, but that may not be a bad thing for Ball's fantasy value if he winds up trading some shot attempts for assists.

Ball (illness) is not listed on the injury report ahead of Wednesday's game against the Lakers, Andrew Lopez of ESPN.com reports.

Ball's status for Wednesday was up in the air after he was sent home from Tuesday's practice with a stomach virus, but he's not listed on the injury report, indicating that he'll be ready to roll against his former team.