Jefferson left Monday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks with about seven minutes left in the fourth quarter with a groin strain injury. Jefferson did not return to the overtime loss and could not practice today.
Jefferson is definitely out for Wednesday’s road game against the Houston Rockets. Coach Steve Clifford doesn’t anticipate a quick comeback from Jefferson. Jefferson had a magnetic resonance imaging this morning to re-evaluate the extent of the injury. Clifford said Monday that doctors didn’t think Jefferson was in danger of further injury by trying to play with this groin strain.
Jefferson is averaging 18 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 32 games this season. Even with Jefferson in the lineups the Hornets are far from an elite offensive team. They rank 24th among NBA teams in scoring (100.1 points per game) and 25th in field-goal percentage (43.1 percent).
Clifford plans to start Bismack Biyombo at center in Jefferson’s absence. The other options at center are Jason Maxiell and Cody Zeller. Zeller starts at power forward. The other options at that position are Marvin Williams, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and rookie Noah Vonleh. The Hornets will bring back Vonleh from the NBA Development League. Clifford said Vonleh would meet the team in Houston and be available to play against the Rockets.
See how the (10-22) Hornets fair against one of the top Western Conference teams tomorrow night.
