Jason Smith injury

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Jason Smith is done for the year

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Jason Smith suffered structural damage in his right shoulder when he blocked an attempted slam dunk by Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant with 10:01 remaining in the fourth quarter of Wednesday night's 92-88 loss against the Thunder.

The team said prior to Friday night's 113-102 defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves that Smith would be out at least two weeks.

But Smith said Friday night that possible surgery to repair the damage has not yet been ruled out.

"We took an MRI (Friday) and it's bad news; bad news," Smith said. "Did some damage. Labrum tear. (Surgery) is still up for debate. We'll have to weigh the options and go forward from there."

Earlier this season, Smith sustained a subluxation of his left shoulder, a separation that pops back into place without severe damage.

Though that injury was painful, he said, the discomfort is nowhere near what he's feeling now.

"I didn't even feel it the next day," Smith said, referring to his condition on Thursday after the Hornets returned from OKC. "I don't know what happened in that time period. We had a day off (Thursday) and it felt OK, a little sore. But it just locked up on me (Thursday) night.

"There's not really much I can do about it. It's something that I would love to play through, but it's just too much pain. Way different than the left one. I felt (the pain) a lot more on that one. This one was fine to play through it (Wednesday night). But as soon as I got done with it, it just did not feel right."

There are three types of labral tears.

A SLAP tear is one usually seen in overhead throwing athletes such as baseball players and tennis players. The tear is at the top of the shoulder socket where the biceps tendon attaches to the shoulder.

A Bankart tear is a one that occurs in a shoulder dislocaton, which makes future dislocations more likely.

Finally, a posterial labral tear, which is less common according to orthopedic websites, yet at times seen when an inpingement occurs within the shoulder when the rotator cuff and labrum are pinched together in the back of the shoulder.

Smith did not say which type of labral tear he sustained.

He has been nagged by injuries this season. Aside from the left shoulder injury, Smith has also been playing with a ligament problem in his left thumb for which he has worn a hard plastic protective brace. He is averaging 8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

Coach Monty Williams said Smith's absence would be covered by other front-court players.

"We have three bigs that we like to rotate anyway," Williams said, citing Ryan Anderson, Anthony Davis and Robin Lopez. "They'll play more minutes."

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