MINNEAPOLIS — Timberwolves center Al Jefferson will miss the rest of the season because of a torn ACL in his right knee.
Coach Kevin McHale said Jefferson will likely have surgery to repair the injury in the next week to 10 days.
Jefferson hurt his knee when he landed awkwardly late in Sunday’s 101-97 loss to New Orleans. He was examined Monday, when the anterior cruciate ligament tear was discovered.
With averages of 23.1 points and 11 rebounds per game this season, Jefferson is one of only three players, along with Orlando’s Dwight Howard and San Antonio’s Tim Duncan, to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds a game this season.
Paul remains sidelined.
Chris Paul, New Orleans’ top scorer and the league’s assists leader, missed his fourth game in a row with a strained groin.
Meanwhile, teammate David West was suspended for Monday’s game at Memphis because of a hard foul that resulted in his ejection against Minnesota on Sunday night.
Footnotes.
Mavericks guard Jason Terry had surgery to stabilize a fracture in his left hand. No timetable for his return was given.
• Cavaliers swingman Sasha Pavlovic could miss six weeks because of a high ankle sprain.
• Charles Barkley will sit out TNT’s coverage of All- Star Weekend in Phoenix, where he was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving Dec. 31, before returning to the air sometime in the second half of the season.
The Associated Press
