NEW YORK — LaMelo Ball was unable to play in the second half of Charlotte’s 97-89 defeat to the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night due to discomfort in his right ankle.

Ball, who has experienced ongoing issues with his ankles and had only recently come back from a sprained left ankle, participated in the first 10 minutes of the opening quarter but did not play at all in the second. The Hornets confirmed at halftime that he would not be returning for the remainder of the game.

Following the match, Ball stated that he had merely tweaked his ankle, expressing hope that it wasn’t serious. However, there was no clear indication from him or coach Charles Lee about whether he would be available for the Hornets’ upcoming contest against Orlando, which takes place just before the All-Star break.

“It’s always frustrating when you have to step out,” Ball remarked. “Of course, you want to be on the court, but you have to prioritize your health and focus on getting stronger moving forward.”

The Hornets faced a tough stretch, losing all five games Ball was sidelined for between January 29 and February 5. Upon his return, he contributed 24 points in a win against San Antonio last Friday but was unable to play on Sunday due to what the team labeled as left ankle soreness.

In the game against Brooklyn, Ball registered five points and three assists. He is currently averaging 28 points per game but has missed a total of 17 games this season, resulting in Charlotte losing 16 of those contests.