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CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Charlotte Hornets playoff hopes took a major hit after an MRI revealed that centre Al Jefferson will miss a minimum of four weeks with a strained adductor muscle in his left groin.The team announced the news in a press release late Tuesday night.The injury is a huge blow to owner Michael Jordans Hornets, who were are struggling at 10-22 but certainly not out of the race for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.But losing a third-team 2013-14 All-NBA selection surely wont help their cause.Jefferson is Charlottes top scorer, averaging 18 points while playing 32.2 minutes per game. He grabs 8.2 rebounds a game. The 6-foot-10 centre has scored in double figures in 28 of 32 games this season.The player teammates simply call Big Al has a team-leading 10 double-doubles this season and has scored at least 20 points in 14 games. His best game included a season-high 34 points against Atlanta on Nov. 7.Bismack Biyombo will take over at centre and hes not nearly as talented on the offensive end. Biyombo is athletic, but his range is extremely limited and he doesnt have the same moves in the low post that Jefferson brings to the table.The scoring load is expected to fall on point guard Kemba Walker, guard Gerald Henderson and forward Cody Zeller.The Hornets plan to recall rookie Noah Vonleh from the NBAs D-League to help fill the void at centre. He was assigned to the Hornets D-League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, on Sunday.Vonleh, the ninth overall pick in this years draft, was slowed by a groin injury this summer and has only appeared in four games for Charlotte. He is averaging 2.5 points, 2.8 rebounds in eight minutes.He is expected to meet the team in Houston for Wednesday nights game against the Rockets.Jefferson left Mondays home game against the Milwaukee Bucks midway through the fourth quarter after aggravating a groin strain that had been plaguing him for the past week. The Hornets lost in overtime. Toronto Blue Jays Pro Shop . Sijsling, ranked 74th in the world, was leading 6-0, 4-1 when his Italian opponent called it quits after just 39 minutes on court. In a match pitting together two qualifiers, Michal Przysiezny of Poland defeated local favourite Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (4) for only his second Tour win of the season. Toronto Blue Jays Store . -- Manchester United thrilled a record crowd with a brilliant opening goal -- and even Cristiano Ronaldos unexpected entrance proved futile for Real Madrid. https://www.cheapbluejays.com/ .ca. Hi Kerry, Love reading your column and loved watching your analysis on the TSN broadcasts!And were now in Round 2! Bruins! Canadiens! We know all about the great games of the past from the players, the broadcasters and the writers. Wholesale Blue Jays Jerseys . Tokarski, a somewhat controversial choice -- with his 10 games of NHL experience and all -- to replace an injured Carey Price in Game Two had a night to remember, turning back a Rangers team that was dominating play from the get-go, outshooting the Canadiens 14-4 in the first period and 37-25 overall. Custom Toronto Blue Jays Jerseys . Roma has a game in hand but now second place is even at risk for the capital side as Napoli moved to within three points with the win. "The result is not always fair," Roma coach Rudi Garcia said. "If we play like this until the end we will win many matches.ALLEN PARK, Mich. - The Detroit Lions slipped and slid plenty in the snow at Philadelphia. Maybe it was fitting. The slumping Lions (7-6) have lost three of four games, blowing fourth-quarter leads each time, wasting chance after chance to take command of the NFC North. "Well just take this slap in the face and hope it wakes us up," cornerback Chris Houston said after Sundays 34-20 loss to the Eagles. "We have two straight home games and we have to go get them. We cant get down on ourselves. We are still in a good position in our division. I think we like when our backs are against the wall." Detroit hosts the defending champion Baltimore Ravens next Monday night and then the New York Giants before closing the regular season at Minnesota. The Lions will remain in first place in the division headed into the weekend, but they have left little room for error over their next three games, all of which will be played indoors. "Anytime its in your hands like that, you feel good about your opportunities," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said Monday. "I know this, the next three games we are not going to have to worry about eight inches of snow on the ground. We are not going to have to worry about 50 mph winds or anything else, but potentially in the future we still do." That would be the playoffs — if Detroit can figure out how to tilt the turnover ratio back to its favour. Detroit had a total of eight turnovers in losses against Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, while failing to force one turnover in either game. The Lions then fumbled seven times and lost three to Philadelphia, which turned it over only once in the same conditions. "Id say the first half was probably more difficult than the second," quarterback Mattheww Stafford said.dddddddddddd "It was a little icier in the second, but its no excuse. We had opportunities to make plays and we didnt make them." The Lions went ahead 20-14 early in the fourth quarter against the Eagles after Jeremy Ross 98-yard kick return — his second score on special teams Sunday — before letting LeSean McCoy score a go-ahead touchdown on a 57-yard run and getting shut down on offence. After the game, some Lions said they were soft on defence. The next day, Schwartz disagreed with that assessment. "We missed a lot of tackles in that game and LeSean McCoy did a good job with the conditions and we didnt," Schwartz said. "I wouldnt put it on anything else. Players can characterize it any way they want, but when you say that word it becomes sort of an inflammatory word." Detroit took leads into the fourth quarter against the Buccaneers and Steelers before being held scoreless in the final quarters of both losses. Schwartz insisted the team is focused on looking ahead to the opportunity of winning the division title — for the first time since 1993 — and cant afford to look back. "You cant really worry about whats happened in the past," Schwartz said. "You have to keep your eyes focused on the future. It starts Monday night with the Ravens." NOTES: Schwartz said rookie CB Darius Slay had knee surgery last Friday and the team didnt put him on injured reserve, holding out hope he can return. ... Schwartz said RB Reggie Bush (calf), rookie DE Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah (shoulder) and rookie OT LaAdrian Waddle (elbow) dont have long-term injuries. ___ Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org ___ Follow Larry Lage on Twitter: twitter.com/larrylage ' ' '