Collison Breaks Bone in Left Thumb

     Thunder forward Nick Collison broke a bone in his left thumb at the end of Sunday’s game against
Cleveland and is listed as day-to-day.

     Collison did not practice Monday and will be a game-time decision for Tuesday’s road game against the Atlanta Hawks. Collison wasn’t available for comment following Monday’s practice but was seen lifting weights with both hands.

     “I haven’t really talked to our medical people yet, but just talking to Nick it’s pretty sore,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks.

     A team spokesman said Collison’s thumb is “painful but he can’t hurt it anymore.”

     Collison, the team’s starting center, is averaging 7.0 points and 6.1 rebounds in 28 games. After a slow start to this season, Collison has picked up his play in December, averaging 8.1 points and 6.6 rebounds this month on 69.2 percent shooting. He’s scored in double digits in six of his past eight games.

     Chris Wilcox is the most likely candidate to replace Collison as the starting center if Collison is unable to play Tuesday. Robert Swift and Johan Petro are also options.

-DM-