Charlotte Bobcats forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist went down Tuesday night, in a 89-82 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. MKG suffered a fractured left hand. Per the press release and Charlotte Observer:
.@bobcats @MKG14 will not return tonight. X-rays taken revealed a left hand fracture. Will be re-examined tomorrow in Charlotte. #CHAvsDAL
— Charlotte Bobcats PR (@BobcatsPR) December 4, 2013
“Kidd-Gilchrist was diagnosed with a fractured left hand he suffered in the second half. He’ll be re-evaluated in Charlotte Wednesday, but he left American Airlines Center in a cast, his middle two fingers taped together. Kidd-Gilchrist indicated it’s the ring finger on his left hand that was injured. ‘I looked down at my finger and it was (pointing) the wrong way,’ said Kidd-Gilchrist, adding he isn’t sure just when or how he hurt himself. This is the fourth broken hand in about a week’s time in the NBA. New Orleans’ Anthony Davis, Kidd-Gilchrist’s Kentucky teammate and close friend, has the same injury as do the Clippers’ J.J. Redick and the Nets’ Paul Pierce. The Bobcats have one of the NBA’s best defenses – this was the 11th straight time they’ve held an opponent under 100 points, best in the league – and Kidd-Gilchrist plays a huge role in that. Coach Steve Clifford has often said his team’s great strength is that wing players Kidd-Gilchrist, Jeff Taylor and Gerald Henderson can guard effectively without needing much help from teammates. ‘That’s a big hit,’ Clifford said. ‘Foul trouble has limited his minutes some lately, but he’s been really good. If you watched him from the summer to now, there’s been a lot of progress since Vegas (summer league). He can be an elite defender in this league. He’s very bright.'”
