LaMelo Available, Coby Out: Rockets Vs Hornets Injury Shuffle Ahead of Tonight's Game
The lineup picture for Rockets Vs Hornets tightened Thursday as LaMelo Ball was confirmed available following a vehicle incident while Coby White remained sidelined with a calf issue for tonight's 7 p. m. ET meeting at Spectrum Center. Multiple suspensions and injuries on both sides will shape rotations and betting angles coming out of the All-Star break.
Rockets Vs Hornets: Lineup, Availability and Suspensions
The official injury report lists several absences that materially affect both teams. Charlotte will be without Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate as both continue serving suspensions tied to the fight that erupted after their loss to the Pistons on Feb. 9. Liam McNeeley is also out with an ankle issue, and Coby White remains out with a calf ailment, extending his absence since before the break. By contrast, LaMelo Ball—who was involved in a car accident on Wednesday—was not listed on the report and will be available.
Houston enters the contest shorthanded as well, with Steven Adams sidelined by an ankle problem and Fred VanVleet out with a knee issue. Those absences leave both teams adjusting rotations and matchups for the evening.
What the Numbers and Recent Form Say
The matchup carries context from earlier this month: Charlotte leads the season series 1-0 after a 109-99 road win as 4. 5-point underdogs in the previous meeting, with Kon Knueppel scoring a team-high 24 in that game. The records listed for the two teams show Houston at 33-20 and Charlotte at 26-29 ahead of tipoff.
Form trends entering tonight complicate the picture. Charlotte's nine-game win streak came to an end in the loss to Detroit on Feb. 9, but the Hornets followed that with a win over the Atlanta Hawks on Feb. 11. The Hornets have been hot overall, going 10-1 in their last 11 games and covering in seven of their last nine. The Rockets briefly looked like they had regained traction with a couple of wins before the break but hit a rough patch afterward, failing to cover in eight of their last 10 games.
Betting and total trends favor a lower-scoring affair: both teams have frequently pushed game totals to the Under lately. Houston has recorded the Over just twice in its last 10 games, while Charlotte has gone Over three times in its last 10. Lines were last updated at 10: 55 a. m. ET on Thursday, a factor for bettors assessing how absences will shift spreads and totals.
Key angles to watch tonight
LaMelo Ball's availability is the headline development for Charlotte and has immediate implications for playmaking and pacing. The Hornets will have to absorb the absence of Bridges and Diabate—two players lost to suspension—while managing the continued absence of Coby White. Houston's missing veteran pieces create matchup questions for the Rockets' backcourt and frontcourt rotations.
Given Charlotte's recent run of results and the fact that the Hornets already hold a season-series edge, tonight presents an opportunity for the home team to build momentum despite roster disruptions. Conversely, Houston's inconsistency and recent struggles to cover spreads mean the Rockets will need visible answers on both ends to avoid another frustrating result.
Expect coaches to lean on available depth and to adjust minutes carefully; the combination of suspensions and injuries makes tonight's 7 p. m. ET tipoff a tactical chess match as much as a physical contest.
