The New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets announced today that forward Desmond Mason will be out indefinitely after a CT Scan administered last night showed a fractured cheek bone (orbital) and nose (septum).

The injury to his cheek will not require surgery, while the possibility of surgery on his nose will be determined in the next 24-48 hours. Mason suffered the injury as a result of an inadvertent elbow from Seattle’s Chris Wilcox at the 4:38 mark of the second quarter during last night’s overtime win over the Sonics.

“Desmond has been a true warrior and leader for us this season, and has fought through various injuries and ailments to be the only Hornet to play in every game,” said Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower. “But these injuries to his face will force him out of action for at least the next few games and possibly the remainder of the season.”

Mason has averaged 13.7 points and 4.6 rebounds while playing and starting in all 75 of the Hornets’ games this season.

In other Hornets injury news, center Hilton Armstrong (sprained left wrist) and forward Cedric Simmons (sprained right ankle) are questionable for tomorrow’s game vs. Phoenix while center Tyson Chandler (bruised left big toe) and guard Chris Paul (stress reaction, left foot) are listed as doubtful.

Chandler left last night’s game at the 4:34 mark of the first quarter after aggravating his toe injury. Paul played through regulation but did not play in overtime due to his foot injury. Neither Armstrong nor Simmons dressed for last night’s game (Simmons was added to the inactive list prior to the game).