Charlotte Hornets rookie LaMelo Ball will make the first start of his career Monday night against the Miami Heat.
Ball replaces Terry Rozier, who is out with a sprained ankle, in the starting lineup.
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, Ball has earned big minutes off the bench this season but had yet to crack a starting lineup that features Rozier, Devonte’ Graham and Gordon Hayward.
Ball is coming off perhaps the best game of his young career, a 27-point, nine-assist performance in a win over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.
Ball, 19, is averaging 12.2 points, 6.1 assists and 5.9 rebounds in 25 minutes per game this season.
This article was originally published by Espn.com. Read the original article here.