Charlotte Hornets starting centre Al Jefferson will be out for two to three weeks due to a strained left calf, the team confirmed on Monday.

Jefferson, who averages 13.7 points and 6.4 rebounds in 17 games when he started for Charlotte this year, was injured in the Hornets’ 87-82 win over the Milwaukee Bucks last Sunday. Jefferson played in just seven minutes in that game.

The injury is seen as a minor blow for the Hornets, who have been playing well at this point of the season. Charlotte is already missing starting small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who is out for the season due to a shoulder injury.

Without Jefferson in the next couple of weeks, the Hornets will turn to forward and centres Marvin Williams, Cody Zeller, Frank Kaminsky and Tyler Hansbrough.

Among the big men left in the rotation, Zeller will most likely be tapped as the team’s starting centre. The Hornets have opened the season with three straight losses but has since won 10 of 14 games for a 10-7 win-loss record, good for sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

The 30-year-old Jefferson has been vital in the Hornets’ success this season. The veteran big man had some good games early this year including a 31-point effort against the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 5 and 29-point output against the Portland Trail Blazers on Nov. 15, both games were victories for the Hornets.

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