NEW ORLEANS - Minnesota Timberwolves center Al Jefferson departed Sunday's 101-97 National Basketball Association loss to the New Orleans Hornets with 27 seconds to play with an apparent right knee injury.

Jefferson came down awkwardly on his right leg while trying to block Sean Marks's shot underneath the basket.

The 24-year-old limped in pain before falling to the floor and holding his right knee.

After being attended on court by team personnel, Jefferson was helped off the court by teammates, putting little or no weight on his leg.

Jefferson, the centerpiece of the trade that sent Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics, is averaging a team-high 23.1 points and 11.0 rebounds after recording his sixth straight double-double in the loss.

He had 25 points and 14 rebounds before exiting.