Nene has sprained MCL, out 4-6 weeks

There were fears that Washington Wizards center Nene had suffered a season-ending injury on Sunday.

In Sunday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Nene was bumped underneath the basket and limped away, only to have to sit down due to knee discomfort. He was helped from the floor and reportedly had to be wheelchaired aboard the team's plane.

Nene underwent an MRI exam on Monday, and The Washington Post cited a source who said "It doesn't look good," fueling speculation that Nene could be out for the remainder of the year.

Well, breathe a sigh of relief, Wizards fans.

According to a report from Yahoo Sports, the Brazilian center only has a sprained left MCL and is expected to be out four-to-six weeks.  The team later confirmed the news, though they estimate a six-week absence.

While that's still a long stretch, perhaps keeping him out until the final week or two of the season (if he missed six weeks, he would be back for the team's final five games), it's much better than the alternative. The Wizards will have to survive in the Eastern Conference playoff picture for roughly 20 games without their power forward, but they've managed to build up a five-game cushion over the ninth seed, so their playoff hopes are still alive.

Marcin Gortat can expect to be featured more in the offense, and Kevin Seraphin, Al Harrington, and Trevor Booker can expect increased playing time in Nene's absence. Nene will be hard to replace, however, as he's averaged 14.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and three assists with an above-average player efficiency rating of 16.4 and a significant defensive impact.

The team could also turn to the free agent market for help - they are reportedly close to adding veteran Drew Gooden on a 10-day contract to see if he has anything to offer.