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VanVleet out 5 weeks

Raptors guard Fred

VanVleet will need surgery on his injured thumb and will miss about five weeks, The Athletic reported Wednesday.

The Raptors also, as expected, signed veteran guard Jeremy Lin for depth at the position.

VanVleet suffered ligament damage in his left thumb on Saturday in a game versus the Knicks. He had been expected to wear a splint for about three weeks.

Denver’s Thomas returns

Nuggets guard Isaiah

Thomas finally returned from hip surgery nearly 11 months ago, making his season debut Wednesday night against the Kings.

Thomas, 30, had not played in a game since March 22 while a member of the Lakers. He signed a one-year, $2 million contract as a free agent with the Nuggets last summer, his third team in less than a year and sixth of his career.

Cubs’ Morrow not ready

Cubs closer Brandon

Morrow confirmed he will not be ready for the start of the season following elbow surgery in November.

“I’m feeling really good right now,” the righthander told ESPN. “I wouldn’t say I’d be ready for the beginning of the regular season. Right now, it’s just feeling it out and seeing how I respond to throwing.”

Morrow, 34, said he intends to throw from 90 feet this week at the club’s spring training facility in Mesa, Ariz. He will gradually increase to longer distances before returning to the mound.

Sharapova hurt

Former world No. 1 Maria

Sharapova will miss next month’s BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells due to a right shoulder injury, organizers said.

The shoulder problem had also forced the 31-year-old to withdraw from her secondround match in St. Petersburg, Russia, last month.

Sharapova’s withdrawal allowed German Mona

Barthel to secure a spot in the Indian Wells singles draw.