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NBA: LaMelo Ball, skidding Hornets visit Pacers for play-in clash

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Field Level Media/Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/life/05/18/20210518-hornets-point-guard-lamelo-rtr.jpg"/><figcaption>Hornets point guard LaMelo drives to the basket against New Orleans in their game on May 9. <em>Nell Redmond, USA Today Sports, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>The Indiana Pacers won their regular-season finale to secure home-court advantage for Tuesday&#x27;s play-in game against the Charlotte Hornets.</p><p>Whether that clash in Indianapolis will serve as any form of an edge for the ninth-seeded Pacers (34-38) remains to be seen.</p><p>Indiana, after all, won just 13 of 23 games at home this season. The Pacers also lost two of the three meetings with the 10th-seeded Hornets (33-39) in 2020-21, including a 114-97 decision at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 2.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/19/21/nba-slumping-celtics-host-westbrook-hot-wizards-in-play-in-game">NBA: Slumping Celtics host Westbrook, hot Wizards in play-in game</a></li></ul><p>&quot;We&#x27;re home in front of our fans, so that&#x27;s going to be a lot of fun,&quot; Domantas Sabonis said after recording his 48th double-double of the season in Indiana&#x27;s 125-113 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday in Tampa, Fla.</p><p>&quot;The goal was to win (Sunday) and get that home-court advantage and now we&#x27;ve got a day to prepare.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/18/21/nba-nets-open-playoffs-as-title-favorites-over-lakers-clippers">NBA: Nets open playoffs as title favorites over Lakers, Clippers</a></li></ul><p>Sabonis averaged a career-best 20.3 points and a team-high 12.0 rebounds this season. He had 25 and 16, respectively, on Sunday in his return from a one-game absence due to a left quad injury.</p><p>The two-time All-Star recorded eight points and 10 boards in the April 2 encounter versus Charlotte before sitting out the fourth quarter with a left ankle sprain. Team leading scorer Malcolm Brogdon (21.2) did not play in that contest due to a sore hip and has been nursing a hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined since April 29.</p><p>Per coach Nate Bjorkgren, Brogdon, Aaron Holiday (toe) and Edmond Sumner (knee) could be available to play on Tuesday. Big man Myles Turner (toe), however, already has been ruled out.</p><p>T.J. McConnell stepped up Sunday by tying a career high with 17 assists to go along with 12 points.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/18/21/nba-lebron-touts-play-in-rival-steph-curry-for-mvp">NBA: LeBron touts play-in rival Steph Curry for MVP</a></li></ul><p>&quot;The injuries that have decimated our team have kind of forced me into a (new) role,&quot; McConnell said. &quot;I&#x27;m always going to get people the ball and get into the lane and look for them, but ... it&#x27;s made me look to score more. I think that&#x27;s what this team has needed from me over these stretches and that&#x27;s what I&#x27;ve tried to do.&quot;</p><p>The Hornets are skidding into the play-in tournament on the heels of losing five in a row and 15 of their last 21 overall.</p><p>&quot;This one stinks, but Tuesday night&#x27;s a new season. ... That&#x27;s the beauty of it,&quot; Charlotte coach James Borrego said after his team squandered an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter of Sunday&#x27;s 115-110 loss to the Washington Wizards.</p><p>Terry Rozier, who averaged a team-best 20.4 points this season, collected 22 points, nine rebounds and nine assists on Sunday. He led the Hornets with 20 points in a 116-106 setback to Indiana on Jan. 27 before sinking five 3-pointers two nights later in a 108-105 victory over the Pacers.</p><p>&quot;Everybody&#x27;s down right now, but we&#x27;ve got another one,&quot; said Rookie of the Year candidate LaMelo Ball, who collected 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists against the Wizards.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/17/21/jordan-clarkson-jalen-green-to-coach-filipino-youth-in-jr-nba-clinics">Jordan Clarkson, Jalen Green to coach Filipino youth in Jr. NBA clinics</a></li></ul><p>Ball made 9-of-17 shots from the floor in his two games versus Indiana this season, however he missed all seven of his 3-point attempts.</p><p>The Hornets confirmed Monday that forward Gordon Hayward (19.6 points per game) will not play Tuesday due to the sprained foot that has sidelined him since April 2.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/18/21/us-ncaa-fil-am-guard-remy-martin-transfers-to-kansas">US NCAA: Fil-Am guard Remy Martin transfers to Kansas</a></li></ul><div> </div><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES:</strong></div><div><strong>What ‘basketball is life’ means for Pinoys, according to PBA legends</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1649470" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>Indiana won its regular-season finale to secure home-court advantage for Tuesday's play-in game against LaMelo Ball and the Hornets.</p>

Indiana won its regular-season finale to secure home-court advantage for Tuesday's play-in game against LaMelo Ball and the Hornets.