Hornets’ Al Jefferson out six weeks with torn meniscus
Charlotte Hornets center Al Jefferson is expected to miss six weeks after tearing his right lateral meniscus, the team announced Wednesday.
Jefferson will have arthroscopic surgery on his knee after an MRI revealed the tear on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old Jefferson is averaging 12.5 points and 6.1 rebound this season, his worst numbers since the 2005-06 season, his second in the league. Jefferson recently returned after missing 11 consecutive games, six due to a calf injury and five while serving a suspension for violating the league’s drug policy. He averaged 2.5 points and four rebounds in his first two games back.
The Hornets (17–13) host the Clippers (19–13) Wednesday night and will be without Jefferson and Spencer Hawes down low, the latter missing his third straight game with a lower back injury.
Recent lottery picks Cody Zeller and Frank Kaminsky have received additional playing time in Jefferson’s absence, Zeller scoring 16 points and eight rebounds in Monday’s win over the Lakers and Kaminsky scoring a career-high 23 points in last week’s loss to the Celtics.
- Jeremy Woo
