Bobcats medical staff says Al Jefferson can play on injured foot, status for Game 2 still unknown

Al Jefferson averaged 21.8 points per game for the Bobcats this season. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) Charlotte Bobcats head coach Steve Clifford has been

Al Jefferson averaged 21.8 points per game for the Bobcats this season. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Charlotte Bobcats head coach Steve Clifford has been informed by the team's medical staff that center Al Jefferson will not further injure his foot by continuing to play this postseason, according to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer.

Jefferson was severely hobbled during the team's opening playoff game against the Miami Heat with plantar fasciitis, later telling reporters that he required two shots of a localized painkiller just to continue playing in the game. He left the stadium in a walking boot following the 99-88 loss.

If Jefferson is able to manage the pain enough to play in Game 2 of the series on Wednesday, Clifford says "there are no long-term effects. Nothing that could be permanent," as far as the injury is concerned.

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The center led the eighth-seeded Bobcats in both scoring and rebounding this season, his first with the team.

"There are no long-term effects. Nothing that could be permanent." -- Steve Clifford on whether there's risk in playing Al Jefferson.

— Rick Bonnell (@rick_bonnell) April 21, 2014

Jefferson clarifies he needed two painkiller shots to continue to play today. Then adds: "I don't like needles"

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) April 20, 2014