LaMelo Ball returns from a 6-week absence and scores 28 points with 5 assists and 5 steals.

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SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball returned from a 20-game absence Friday night in Charlotte’s 135-99 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

Ball finished with 28 points, five assists and five steals in his first game since spraining his right ankle Nov. 26 at Orlando.

“It’s always good to play basketball, but not like that,” Ball said. “But it was cool to get back out there.”

Ball, 22, had surgery on the same ankle last season and was limited him to 33 games.

A showdown between Victor Wembanyama and Brandon Miller, the top two picks in the NBA Draft, fizzed when Miller bruised his lower back after falling headfirst into the basket stanchion two minutes into the second quarter.

Wembanyama had 26 points and 11 rebounds in 20 minutes.