The New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets announced today that forward Desmond Mason will undergo surgery next Friday (April 13) to repair a deviated septum.

The surgery will require Mason to miss the remainder of the regular season, but the Hornets will re-evaluate his postseason status if the team makes the playoffs (the Hornets currently trail the Los Angeles Clippers by two-and-a-half games for the eighth playoff spot).

“It’s unfortunate that we will not have Desmond for the remainder of our regular season games, but our focus continues to be making the playoffs,” said Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower. “If we accomplish that goal, we are hopeful that he would be able to re-join us and provide us with the same leadership and tenacity that made him such a valuable part of our team this season.”

Mason suffered a fractured cheek and nose 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. He has averaged 13.7 points and 4.6 rebounds while playing and starting in all 75 of the Hornets’ games this season.