David West Out for Season With ACL Tear

by Marcel Mutoni@marcel_mutoni

Last night in Utah was a mixed bag for the New Orleans Hornets. They gutted out a tough overtime win, in thrilling — at times surreal — fashion, but may have lost their second-best player for the remainder of the season in the process.

On a hard, driving left-handed dunk late in the fourth quarter to tie the game, David West came down awkwardly on his left knee. He left the court in a wheelchair.

The Times-Picayune has the details:

West sustained what is being termed as “left knee trauma” on a driving slam dunk with 22.5 to go in regulation. X-rays were negative, but an MRI is scheduled for today in Phoenix, where the Hornets play the Suns on Friday night.

West was laid out on a training table in the dressing room, his knee encased in ice, in obvious pain, his face covered by a towel. A large immobilizing splint and a pair of crutches were brought into the locker room.

UPDATE: The Times-Picayune reports that today’s MRI revealed a torn left ACL and DWest will be out for season.