NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- New Orleans Hornets center Emeka Okafor will miss up to three weeks of play because of an abdominal injury, the team said Tuesday.

Okafor was injured during Sunday game against Phoenix. Subsequent examinations determined the injury was a Grade 2 strain of the left oblique muscle.

The Hornets said the quickest Okafor could return to the lineup would be next week but he could miss up to three weeks.

Okafor will see his string of 306 consecutive regular-season games end Tuesday when the Hornets play Washington.

He averaged 11.1 points and 10.1 rebounds over 49 games this season. Okafor is second in the NBA in shooting percentage, making 59.3 percent of his shots.