Brooklyn Nets forward Paul Pierce will miss 2 to 4 weeks with a non-displaced fracture of the third metacarpal in his right (shooting) hand, the Nets announced today. The Nets say the injury occurred during the first half of the team’s November 29th game against the Houston Rockets.
A non-displaced fracture means that the bone fractured either partway or clean through, but did not shatter and maintained its regular alignment. Pierce has never been officially listed for a finger or hand injury, so this is likely not a recurring injury. According to Rotowire’s Injury Analyst Jeff Stotts, the last 16 players with a metacarpal fracture that did not need surgery missed an average of 14 games.
Make a fist and look down at it (not at your fingers). Don’t punch yourself. The third metacarpal is the bone you’re looking at that extends below your middle finger. You can feel it if you rub your hand below your middle finger.
Pierce started the season shooting well but has sputtered since, most recently shooting 1-6 and earning a benching throughout the second half Friday night in a blowout loss against the Houston Rockets. On the season, Pierce has averaged 12.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 29.1 minutes per game, shooting under 37 percent from the field.
This injury cripples the Nets even further at the forward position. They are already without backup small forward Andrei Kirilenko, who suffered back spasms in preseason and has not seen the floor since November 5th. He’s called the spasms the worst of his career. Kirilenko’s earliest potential return date is Saturday, December 7th against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Nets are also without Jason Terry, fighting a right knee injury, until at least that date.
Okay, now punch yourself.
