PHOENIX (AFP) - Phoenix Suns guard Leandro Barbosa could miss the remainder of the NBA season with a broken left hand suffered in a Tuesday loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

The 31-year-old Brazilian will not need surgery, the Suns announced Wednesday, but there is also no timetable for his return.

The Arizona Republic said he will miss four to six weeks and only six weeks remain in the NBA regular season.

Barbosa suffered the injury while drawing a charging foul on Clippers' star Cliff Paul in the first quarter of the Suns' 104-96 defeat.

At 35-25, the Suns cling to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with Memphis just behind at 34-25.

Barbosa, named the NBA's top reserve player in 2007, has averaged 7.5 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 29 games for the Suns since signing with the club on January 8.

Barbosa spent the first seven seasons of his NBA career with Phoenix and later played for Toronto, Indiana and Boston as well as two Brazilian clubs before rejoining the Suns.