The Charlotte Hornets will be without forward Nicolas Batum tonight against the Cleveland Cavaliers, setting the stage for Jeremy Lamb to start in his place, the team announced today.

Batum is suffering from an ulnar nerve contusion, which stems from his previous UCL tear that kept him out from the start of the season. The 6-foot-8 guard/forward hybrid injured himself in a collision with Otto Porter Jr. of the Washington Wizards and was ruled out at halftime of Wednesday's game.

The Frenchman doesn't think this injury is as serious as his previous one, hence why he was allowed to travel with the team, according to Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer.

Lamb has been a great fit at shooting guard since the start of the season with his athleticism and shooting ability, and has left questions about his consistency behind — making him a nice plug-and-play option for head coach Steve Clifford on such short notice.

A nerve injury is always a scary thought, given that Batum likely has lost feeling in his elbow and would take some time to regain it. To in some way re-injure a recent body part is always a reason for concern, but his specific diagnosis and the fact he hasn't stayed home for further testing are two positives for him moving forward.