The Atlanta Hawks were dealt a big blow Friday when an MRI revealed that forward Al Horford suffered a completely torn right pectoral muscle during the team’s double-overtime win Thursday night at the Cleveland Cavaliers and is out indefinitely.
Horford tore his left pectoral in 2012 and missed four months while recovering.
“We will work with Al and complete our due diligence to determine the next best steps,” Hawks general manger Danny Ferry said in a statement. “Injuries are part of the challenge of an NBA season.”
Horford left Thursday night’s double OT win in the first overtime with the injury. After stretching his right arm out in an attempt to deflect an inbound pass, Horford immediately stopped playing and clutched his right shoulder area in evident pain. The Hawks said an MRI and examination on Friday by Dr. Michael Bernot in Atlanta revealed the complete tear of the muscle.
Horford is one of six players in the NBA leading his team in both points (18.6) and rebounds (8.4) per game. The others are LeBron James of the Miami Heat, Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks, LaMarcus Aldridge of the Portland Trail Blazers and DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings.
Horford is averaging a career-high 18.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 blocks per game this season, and he was a strong candidate to make the 2014 All-Star Game, which would have been the third selection of his career.
GET WELL SOON AL!
A bump on the road with this injury, but I will focus to get back more focus and better!
— Al Horford (@Al_Horford) December 28, 2013
