New Orleans Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry told local reporters Saturday that starting point guard Elfrid Payton will have surgery on his broken left pinky. A timetable for his return will be determined after the procedure.

Elfrid Payton suffered a fracture to his left small finger Friday night against the New York Knicks. He had missed the previous nine games due to a right ankle injury. Just a tough blow for both the Pelicans and Payton.

Elfrid Payton signed a one-year deal with the Pelicans in July after splitting time last season with the Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns. In the six games Payton has played in this season, the 24-year-old was averaging 9.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists while shooting 47.1 percent from the field, 42.9 percent from beyond the arc and 63.6 percent from the free-throw line.

This is a tough break for Elfrid Payton. You never want to see players get hurt and miss games. But the fact that Payton just came back from an ankle injury and will now have to miss future games with a hand ailment, is bad luck at its finest.

Elfrid Payton has one double-double and one triple-double on the season. The Pelicans are 5-1 in the games Payton has started.