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Hornets' Jefferson, Lin, Hawes out vs. Clippers; Batum will play

Jerome Miron / USA TODAY Sports

The Charlotte Hornets will be without a trio of key players Wednesday.

Al Jefferson, Jeremy Lin, and Spencer Hawes have all been ruled out for their match against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Nicolas Batum, however, will play against their Western Conference opponent.

Jefferson - the team's pivotal big man - missed 11 consecutive games throughout December due to a combination of a calf injury and suspension. He will sit with soreness in his right knee.

The 30-year-old Mississippi native is averaging 12.5 points and 6.1 rebounds in 19 contests this season.

Lin has proven to be a respectable backup to Walker, logging 11.8 points, 3.2 boards, and 3.2 dimes in 25.5 minutes.

In his second of two starts this season, Lin exploded for 35 points in a thrilling win against the Toronto Raptors.

He is nursing an ankle injury.

Hawes, who like Lin and Batum, joined the Hornets this past offseason, and has filled in for the oft-absent Jefferson.

Battling lower back soreness, the 7-foot-1 "stretch five" has been cashing in on 38.6 percent of his 3-point attempts in limited minutes (17 per game) through 27 games.

Batum - who is dealing with a sprained toe - has missed only one game in 2015-16, and has arguably been Charlotte's most crucial player (apologies to Kemba Walker) with his 16.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and a solid 17.3 PER.

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