Jefferson limited by knee soreness, Zeller out for Hornets

These are troubled times for the Charlotte Hornets frontcourt. 

Coach Steve Clifford said Wednesday that center Al Jefferson will be limited for the remainder of the season by a sore right knee - the byproduct of a sprain he suffered March 11. 

He's expected to play in Wednesday's game against the Nets.

Whether "limited" means Jefferson's 20-minute, 1-of-7 shooting, three-point effort against the Chicago Bulls on Monday, or the 33-minute, 18-point, 11-rebound outing the day before remains to be seen. The Hornets, fighting for their playoff lives, can ill afford to have their leading rebounder and third-leading scorer banged up, especially without power forward Cody Zeller.

Zeller will miss his seventh game of the last eight due to a shoulder injury he suffered March 9. He returned to action last Friday against the Kings, but was back on the sidelines for the next two.

The injuries have resulted in more minutes for Marvin Williams up front. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist may also see time at power forward.