Hornets juggling lineup changes ahead of visit from Nets

It has been tough going for the Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets for much of the season.

They'll be aiming to soothe some of those woes when they meet for Wednesday night's game in Charlotte.

The Hornets are trying to sort out how to best deal with an evolving lineup, particularly if guard LaMelo Ball isn't ready to play following his latest ailment.

The Hornets have lost three of their last four games, with the 112-107 setback to the visiting Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.

Ball played nine minutes and scored seven points before departing with an apparent ankle injury. He has been in and out of the lineup because of various ailments this season, yet he gained All-Star status for his performances when he's available.

Charlotte coach Charles Lee suggested it would be a wait-and-see situation regarding Ball. But he said he liked the guard's attitude following the game.

"He did a great job of being in the locker room and being engaged as the guys came off the court," Lee said.

The Nets fell 110-96 to visiting Sacramento on Monday night. That was their seventh straight defeat, including the last four at home.

"The nature of the turnovers," Nets coach Jordi Fernandez said. "Nobody is trying to turn it over. I trust these guys, they can make the right play."

DeAngelo Russell has scored at least 19 points in four of Brooklyn's last five games. He has turned into the most reliable scorer since arriving from the Lakers, topping the team in points in four of the past six games.

But overall, the offense has sputtered. Shooting 10-for-36 on 3-pointers isn't helping the Nets.

"A lot of teams play zone against us," Fernandez said. "We have to keep preaching to take the right shot, making the right play."

In advance of Wednesday's game, the Nets will be addressing an ankle injury to forward Noah Clowney, who exited in the second quarter Monday.

These teams are 13th (Nets) and 14th (Hornets) among 15 teams in the Eastern Conference standings.

The Hornets rely on Ball for scoring and for playmaking. It's a different dynamic when he's not on the court, though Charlotte should be well-versed in lineup combinations without him.

"Trying to use a little bit of pick-and-roll with different guys as the primary handler," Lee said. "We continue to grow all the layers of our offense. ... You have to get more comfortable and used to where you'll be in different sets."

The Hornets are still getting used to forward Josh Okogie, who was acquired in a trade from the Phoenix Suns on Jan. 15. He has played five games with Charlotte, rolling up 19 points against the Lakers for his second-highest total of the season.

"The energy he has brought from us, offensive rebounds to defensive rebounds, pushing the pace, it's been amazing," guard Josh Green said. "He's great to play with."

Okogie only played for one minute against the Nets when he was with the Suns for a November game.

The Nets won the only previous meeting with Charlotte this season, prevailing 116-115 in an NBA Cup game on Nov. 19. Cameron Johnson gave Brooklyn 34 points that day, but he's out with an ankle injury until at least the end of the week.

--Field Level Media