MRI on Al Jefferson's calf reveals no structural damage
The pop Al Jefferson felt in his right calf turned out not to be as serious as it sounded.
Jefferson, who sustained the leg injury during Wednesday's loss to the Sacramento Kings, had an MRI that revealed no structural damage. He'll be re-evaluated by team doctors but will at least miss Friday's game versus the Chicago Bulls.
The team is optimistic Jefferson will return soon, and he stated it won't be a long-term injury. That's good news for a Hornets team trying to secure one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference for the second consecutive season.
Charlotte is a half-game behind the Miami Heat for the No. 8 seed.
Jefferson scored nine points in 24 minutes Wednesday before leaving in the third quarter. He's averaging 17.2 points and a team-leading 8.8 rebounds in 54 games.
The 30-year-old missed nine contests earlier in the season with a groin injury.