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| | Tuesday, December 21 | ||||||
| CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NBA steals leader Eddie Jones of the
Charlotte Hornets has a torn ligament in his left elbow and will be sidelined three to six weeks, the team said Tuesday.
Jones was driving to the basket on a fast break during the second quarter of Monday night's game against New York when the Knicks' Kurt Thomas fouled him. The contact caused a tear in the medial collateral ligament in Jones' left elbow. Jones stayed in the game and finished with 23 points, five assists and a steal in 44 minutes. Tests on Tuesday after the team returned home revealed the extent of the injury. Glenn Perry, the Hornets' team physician, said the injury will not require surgery. Jones, a right-handed shooter, started rehabilitation Tuesday. In addition to leading the NBA with 2.83 steals, Jones averages 19.4 points and 37.8 minutes, both tops on the Hornets. His injury came in a contest that ended Charlotte's eight-game winning streak and dropped the Hornets into a tie with Miami atop the Eastern Conference standings. The absence of the 6-foot-7 Jones is expected to lead to increased minutes for shooting guard Bobby Phills and forward Anthony Mason.
Charlotte resumes play Thursday night at home against Orlando.
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