<
>

Spurs center Pau Gasol has surgery for broken left hand

play
How does Gasol's injury impact Spurs? (1:21)

Antonio Davis and Jeff Goodman examine what Pau Gasol's broken finger means for the Spurs and what the team has to do to stay afloat in his absence. (1:21)

SAN ANTONIO -- Spurs center Pau Gasol had surgery and is out indefinitely after fracturing the fourth metacarpal on his left hand, the team announced Friday.

Gasol suffered the injury while colliding with teammate Kyle Anderson during warm-ups prior to the Spurs' home game against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday.

He walked off the court grimacing and flexing his left hand, and the team immediately took X-rays at the arena. David Lee took Gasol's place in the starting lineup.

The Spurs (33-9) have yet to determine a timeline for Gasol's return, but sources told ESPN that it could be from four to eight weeks.

During the 2013-14 season, Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard suffered essentially the same injury, fracturing the fourth metacarpal on his right hand, which put him out of commission for 14 games. Toronto center Jonas Valanciunas missed 17 games with a broken left hand in 2015.

"The coaches do a great job getting everybody ready and what plays we're going to run, our defense that we're going to play tonight," Leonard said. "It's probably a big deal for the guys who find out they're going to start, because it just changes your whole approach to the game. But we're used to it. We're going to miss Pau. Hopefully, we can keep moving."

Veteran guard Danny Green attempted to find a silver lining in Gasol's injury.

"We look at it as a positive. It's a chance for the young guys to get in there and have the 'next-man-up' attitude, to get in there and continue to win games and play well," Green said. "These young guys get a chance to prove themselves and earn that trust, and hopefully we can keep trying to pull out wins somehow. We want to get better and stay healthy for playoffs."

A 16-year veteran, Gasol signed on July 14 with the Spurs and has started 39 games this season. He is averaging 11.7 points and 7.9 rebounds and shooting .510 from the field.

Gasol produced the third-best shooting night from the field in Spurs history on Jan. 12, connecting on all nine of his shots for 22 points to go with nine rebounds and six assists in 25 minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers. Gasol put together his sixth double-double of the season on Dec. 28 against the Phoenix Suns with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Gasol leads the Spurs in blocks (45) this season.