EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey - Serbian center Nenad Krstic of the New Jersey Nets underwent successful surgery on his right thumb, the National Basketball Association club said here Tuesday.
Hand specialist Charles Melone repaired a torn ligament in the 7-footer's thumb at Manhattan's St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital.
Krstic will be in a cast for five weeks before rehabilitation begins.
The Nets were swept by Miami in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Krstic scored 17 points in 38 minutes in Sunday's concluding 110-97 loss to star center Shaquille O'Neal and the Heat.
The rookie big man averaged 10.0 points and 5.3 rebounds in 75 games, including 57 starts, then improved to 18.3 points on 56 percent shooting and 7.5 rebounds in the playoffs.
05/03/2005 19:19 GMT