LaMelo, Lonzo Ball face off for first time this season

The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Charlotte Hornets 139-132 on Tuesday night, and the NBA's most popular brothers squared off against each other.

The Hornets' LaMelo Ball and the Cavaliers' Lonzo Ball played against one another in an NBA for the first time since Jan. 17 of last season.

LaMelo scored 23 points on 8/16 shooting, including a 6/10 night from 3-point range. He also had four rebounds and nine assists in 24 minutes. Lonzo came off the bench for the Cavaliers, scoring six points and dishing out seven assists.

While LaMelo had the better stat line, Lonzo's Cavaliers outpaced the Hornets and earned the victory. Lonzo has the all-time lead against LaMelo, holding a 3-2 career record against his younger brother.

Both players' careers have been limited due to injuries. Lonzo missed two seasons after a cartilage and meniscus transplant in 2022. LaMelo has frequently missed time with ankle and knee issues.

The other Ball brother, LiAngelo, was seen in the crowd in Cleveland on Tuesday night. LiAngelo had a brief stint with the Greensboro Swarm, the Hornets' G-League affiliate, before being cut. He is now pursuing a musical career.

Lonzo starred at UCLA for one season before being taken second in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. Three years later, LaMelo was drafted No. 3 overall by the Hornets. They are the only brothers to both be selected in the top three of the NBA Draft.

The Ball family came into prominence in the mid-2010's for their unique style of play and dominance on the court. They played on the legendary Chino Hills High School team that also featured Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu.