’s regular-season debut with the Charlotte Hornets is going to be a bit delayed.
An MRI taken on Friday determined revealed a non-displaced fracture in Ntilikina’s left tibia, the Hornets announced on Saturday, sidelining him for at least the initial four weeks of the season. Ntlikina will be re-evaluated in a month, meaning he won’t be available to backup LaMelo Ball when the Hornets host Atlanta on Wednesday to tip off their 2023-24 campaign.
Ntilikina injured himself in the fourth quarter of the Hornets’ preseason loss to Boston on Thursday, crumpling to the floor near the baseline closest to the Celtics’ bench.