Shaq has surgery to repair thumb

INDEPENDENCE (AP) — Cleveland Cavaliers center Shaquille O’Neal had surgery on his injured right thumb Monday and seems likely to miss the rest of the regular season.

If he gets back for the playoffs, though, O’Neal is promising to make up for his time out.

O’Neal will miss about eight weeks, the team said. He was examined Sunday by specialist Dr. Thomas Graham at the National Hand Center in Baltimore, who performed the surgery Monday morning.

The recovery timeline means O’Neal, who turns 38 on Saturday, may not be ready for the start of the playoffs April 17. The Cavaliers acquired him last summer with an eye toward the postseason, after Dwight Howard and Orlando eliminated them in the Eastern Conference finals.