Nuggets' Andersen has surgery on finger

DENVER, July 14 (UPI) -- Denver Nuggets forward-center Chris Andersen had surgery Wednesday to repair a torn ligament in his left ring finger.

The team indicated Andersen injured the finger March 13 during a game at Memphis but he played the remainder of the regular season and playoffs.

Andersen had a partial tear of the patella tendon in his right knee repaired in May. He suffered that injury in Game 2 of the Nuggets' first-round playoff series against Utah.

The club said Andersen is expected to be fully recovered from both procedures by the start of next season.

He averaged 5.9 points and a career-high 6.4 rebounds in 76 games last season. Andersen also ranked sixth in the NBA with 1.88 blocks per game.