The Charlotte Hornets have lost another star player to injury after Gordon Hayward was ruled out for four weeks with a foot sprain.
Although the Hornets are going strong in the East, sitting fourth with a 25-23 record, they have been without leading Rookie of the Year contender LaMelo Ball for the past seven games.
Ball, the brother of New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo, was averaging 15.9, 6.1 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals in his debut NBA season before he fractured his wrist.
The third overall pick faces a race to return this season, although a postseason run would boost his chances.
Charlotte's playoff hopes have now been hit further, however, with Hayward's setback confirmed following Friday's win over the Indiana Pacers.
"He will be reevaluated in approximately four weeks and further updates on his status will be provided as appropriate," a statement read on Saturday.
With Hayward tallying 19.6 points per game this season, it means the Hornets are missing their second- and third-highest scorers.
Terry Rozier leads the way on an average of 20.3 points, although Miles Bridges was Charlotte's top performer against the Pacers with 23 points off the bench in a dominant 114-97 success.
For Hayward, this is just the latest in a series of injury frustrations.
Having earned an All-Star selection with the Utah Jazz, the forward signed with the Boston Celtics in free agency in 2017.
But Hayward played just once in his first season in Boston due to a fractured ankle sustained five minutes into his debut.
He was then beset by a number of minor issues in his second year as a Celtic, averaging just 11.5 points as he played 72 games but started only 18.
The 2019-20 campaign brought a return to form, despite Hayward fracturing his hand, but a sprained ankle at the start of the playoffs limited him to five postseason games, scoring 10.8 points per game after 17.5 in the regular season.
Hayward's sorry stay with the Celtics came to an end ahead of the current season when he moved to Charlotte in a sign-and-trade.