Tyson Chandler to Miss 4-6 Weeks

After leaving Tuesday night’s 102-97 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats in the first quarter with an apparent knee sprain, New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler and his team received even worse news on Wednesday.

Unfortunately for Chandler, a more in-depth evaluation revealed a small displaced fracture of his right fibula, which the team expects will sideline its big man for four to six weeks, according to ESPN.com.

Chandler suffered the injury when he collided with Charlotte’s Kemba Walker early in Tuesday night’s contest. While the injury is more severe than the Knicks initially suspected, they did announce that Chandler did not experience any nerve damage and will not need surgery.

Still, losing the league’s 2011-2012 Defensive Player of the Year for at least a month will be significant for the Knicks, who are already off to a shaky 1-3 start. Although Chandler was only averaging 7.0 points and 9.0 rebounds through the team’s first four games, his ability to defend the paint and alter shots will be sorely missed, as the Knicks were ranking third in the NBA in fewest points allowed (94 per game) with Chandler in the lineup.

“I just pray and hope that he’s fine, he’s all right,” Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony said following the Knicks’ loss to the Bobcats.

With Chandler out, it’s unclear who will step up to fill his shoes. The burden could fall upon Cole Aldrich, who is the only other true big man on the team at seven feet, but it’s also possible 35-year-old Kenyon Martin could see more playing time in the middle, where he spent some time last season for the Knicks. Another option would be for the Knicks to test the free agent market for a proven veteran big man. Either way, the Knicks’ frontcourt will certainly be thin and vulnerable for the next month or so.

With the Spurs, Hawks and and Rockets coming up on New York’s schedule this week, look for the Knicks to have a rough adjustment period as they try to make up for the absence of Chandler.