Updated: January 19, 2009, 8:41 PM ET

Chandler leaves with ankle injury

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NEW ORLEANS -- The Hornets lost a second starter Monday when center Tyson Chandler injured his left ankle and was helped off the floor in the second quarter of New Orleans' game against the Indiana Pacers.

Starting forward David West sat out the game because of back spasms.

Chandler twisted his ankle on the Hornets' defensive end when he went up for a rebound and came down on T.J. Ford's foot, crumpling to the court and losing the ball out of bounds.

Hornets teammates Sean Marks and Melvin Ely carried Chandler partway off the floor. Chandler then gingerly attempted to put some pressure on his left foot as he disappeared down the tunnel toward the locker rooms.

Chandler, who averages 8.9 points and 8.5 rebounds, had scored six points and grabbed four rebounds before he left the game with the Hornets leading 52-49.

Marks started in West's spot. It was the first start of the season for Marks, who has appeared in 18 previous games, averaging 1.8 points and 2 rebounds. He missed his first three shots before scoring on a dunk from Paul but played only six minutes in the first half.

West, sitting out his first game this season, averaged 20 points and 7.1 rebounds through the Hornets' first 37 games. Coach Byron Scott said West also could miss Wednesday night's home game against New Jersey.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.