Al Jefferson Out Indefinitely With Torn ACL

[Mexi]

-Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Timberwolves star center Al Jefferson is out indefinitely with a torn ACL in his right knee.
A Big Loss

Al Jefferson's injury leaves Minnesota with a huge hole to fill. Not only is Jefferson the team's leading scorer and rebounder, but he also put up some of the better numbers in the league this season.

The team made the announcement Monday after a somber practice. Coach Kevin McHale said Jefferson will likely have surgery to repair the injury in the next week to 10 days.

Jefferson hurt his knee when he landed awkwardly late in Sunday's 101-97 loss to New Orleans. He was examined Monday, when the anterior cruciate ligament tear was discovered.

Jefferson is the team's leading scorer and rebounder, at 23.1 points and 11 rebounds per game. He is one of only three players, along with Orlando's Dwight Howard and San Antonio's Tim Duncan, to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds a game this season.

"Al's played at such a high level for this team and been such a big part of our team," McHale said. "Everybody around here today is a little bit down in the dumps."

It was devastating news for a young Timberwolves team that has been playing better in 2009 after getting off to a 4-23 start to the season. With Jefferson the focal point, the Wolves went 10-4 in January, and the 24-year-old center was playing even better early in this month.

He had 36 points and 22 rebounds in a loss at Houston on Saturday night and followed that up with 25 points and 14 boards before getting injured in the final 30 seconds against the Hornets on Sunday.

"I feel terrible for Al. Al's really, right now, devastated by it," McHale said. "It all happens for a reason. It's hard for me to figure out what this reason is. Somehow he's just going to have to make the best of it and rehab and get better and move on from here."

The injury was ugly. This is terrible news. The ACL is the bad one. I think he's gonna be out at least 12 months unfortunately

 

[Pugz]

This sucks.

 

[Lake Louise]

Dang. They were starting to turn things around to. Well, I guess it`s a good thing he didn`t make the ASG, because he wouldn`t be able to play in it anyways. Hopefully, he isn`t out too long, because T-Wolves play well around him when he is in games, and now that he is injured, it`s looking like they could take a nosedive back down to the uglyer side of things. Unless, someone steps it up BIG time.

 

[cruzg24]

Damn that sux. Looks like he landed the wrong way on that foot.

 

[The Young One]

Got damn it not al.

 

[Mexi]

definitely out for the rest of the season and probably a full calendar year
see you next March/April AlJeff