Hornets Injury Report: Coby White Out, LaMelo Ball Available vs. Rockets

Charlotte looks to bounce back from pre-All-Star break loss as they take on Houston

Feb. 26, 2026 at 6:31am

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The Charlotte Hornets will return from the All-Star break to face the Houston Rockets on Thursday night. The team's injury report lists Coby White as out due to a calf injury, while LaMelo Ball, who was involved in a car accident on Wednesday, is available to play. The Hornets will also be without Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate, who are still serving suspensions after a fight in their last game before the break.

Why it matters

The Hornets are looking to regain momentum after their nine-game win streak was snapped in their final game before the All-Star break. Their matchup against the Rockets is an important one as they try to solidify their position in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The details

The Hornets' injury report lists Coby White as out due to a calf injury, while LaMelo Ball, who was involved in a car accident on Wednesday, is available to play. The team will also be without Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate, who are still serving suspensions after a fight in their last game before the break. The Rockets will be missing Steven Adams (ankle) and Fred VanVleet (knee).

  • The Hornets' last game before the All-Star break was on Feb. 9, when they lost to the Detroit Pistons, ending their nine-game win streak.
  • The Hornets will face the Rockets on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2026.

The players

LaMelo Ball

The Hornets' star point guard, who was involved in a car accident on Wednesday but is available to play against the Rockets.

Coby White

The Hornets' newly acquired guard, who is out due to a calf injury and has yet to make his debut for the team.

Miles Bridges

The Hornets' forward, who is still serving a suspension after being involved in a fight in the team's last game before the All-Star break.

Moussa Diabate

The Hornets' forward, who is also still serving a suspension after being involved in the same fight as Miles Bridges.

Steven Adams

The Rockets' center, who is out due to an ankle injury.

Fred VanVleet

The Rockets' guard, who is out due to a knee injury.

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What they’re saying

“We need to come out strong and regain that momentum we had before the break. The Rockets are a tough team, but we're confident we can get the job done.”

— Steve Clifford, Hornets Head Coach

What’s next

The Hornets will look to bounce back from their pre-All-Star break loss and solidify their position in the Eastern Conference playoff race as they take on the Rockets on Thursday night.

The takeaway

The Hornets' injury report heading into the Rockets game highlights the challenges they face, with key players like Coby White still out and suspensions still in effect. However, the team's confidence and the return of star LaMelo Ball give them a chance to regain momentum and make a push for the playoffs.