Nuggets' Gallinari has broken thumb

DENVER, March 20 (UPI) -- Denver forward Danilo Gallinari, the Nuggets' leading scorer, has a broken thumb on his left -- non-shooting -- hand.

Gallinari injured his left thumb in Monday's loss to Dallas. He said doctors told him the injury would take four weeks to heal but he hoped to return to the lineup sooner with a splint on the injured hand.

"Unbelievable, but got to keep going, keep thinking positive and make this push for the playoffs," Gallinari said via Twitter after the Dallas game.

The Nuggets are 25-21 this season and in seventh place in the NBA Western Conference. The top eight teams qualify for the playoffs.

Gallinari leads Denver with a 15.2 points-per-game average this season. He missed a good deal of February's schedule because of an ankle injury. He returned from that issue March 5.