Sefolosha suffers broken leg, out for season – report

NEW YORK, USA – Atlanta Hawks Thabo Sefolosha will miss the remainder of the season after breaking his leg in a scuffle when he and a teammate were arrested by police in New York, US media reported Thursday, April 9 (Friday in Manila).

The Hawks reserve forward suffered a broken fibula and will need surgery, ESPN.com said. Sefolosha is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs.

The 30-year-old from Vevey, Switzerland was hurt early Wednesday outside a Manhattan nightclub when he resisted arrest following the stabbing of Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland, according to police.

Police said Sefolosha and another Hawks player, Pero Antic, tried to interfere with the initial investigation moments after police arrived at the scene.

Sefolosha missed 23 games earlier this season with a right calf injury. He is averaging 5.3 points in 52 games with the Hawks.

Meanwhile, Copeland was listed in stable condition on Thursday after surgery for stab wounds to his abdomen and elbow, the NBA team said. Two women were also injured in a fracas outside the nightclub 1 OAK.

Shevoy Bleary-Murdock, 22, was charged with felony assault and possession of a criminal weapon in the incident, New York Police Department spokesman Sergeant Lee Jones said.

The Pacers, who have not publicly addressed the circumstances surrounding Copeland’s injuries except to say they were gathering information, said there was “no timetable” for how long the 31-year-old player would remain in the hospital.

Copeland issued a statement on Thursday.

The Pacers dropped the New York Knicks 102-86 on Wednesday night to help keep their slim playoff hopes alive. They are one game out of the eighth and final post-season berth in the Eastern Conference. – Rappler.com