DENVER -- The New Orleans Hornets didn't have their big man for their big game.
Tyson Chandler was sidelined for Game 5 against Denver on Wednesday night with a swollen left ankle.
The center has been hampered by the injury all series, averaging just 3.8 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Hornets coach Byron Scott said the ankle wasn't 100 percent heading into the playoffs and that with each game it's only gotten worse.
Chandler missed 15 straight games in the regular season because of the ankle and returned for the season finale.
After discussing the situation with Chandler on Wednesday morning at the team's shootaround, Scott decided to hold him out.
"Just for his health," Scott said.
New Orleans started Hilton Armstrong in his place as the Hornets, down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, tried to stave off elimination.
Scott didn't rule out Chandler's return should the series be extended.
"If we can get back to New Orleans and get back here, if there is a Game 7, it would probably be a different story," Scott said. "He would actually have some time to rest and heal it a little bit more."
Scott also said All-Star Chris Paul wasn't playing at full strength, either. The dynamic point guard has been bumped around all series, absorbing one collision after another.
Still, Paul is averaging 17.8 points and 10.5 assists in the series.
"He's going to play as hard as he can for as long as he can," Scott said. "We've got a team that out of the five starters now, one is not playing at all and we have one starter that's healthy and that's Rasual Butler. Everybody else is just banged up there."
It's been a tumultuous season for Chandler, who was dealt to Oklahoma City in February, only to have the trade rescinded when he failed a physical.
His production in the playoffs has steadily dwindled as his minutes decreased. He scored seven points in 36 minutes in Game 2, but was held scoreless in 13 minutes in Game 4.
That ultimately led to Scott's decision to rest Chandler.
"Obviously it hurts us, but I thought that each game he got a little worse," Scott said. "We knew that before the series started."