Shaq to be seen by hand specialist

Cleveland center Shaquille O'Neal will have his sprained right thumb examined on Sunday by doctor Thomas Graham at the National Hand Center in Baltimore, the Cavaliers said.

O'Neal was injured in the Cavaliers' NBA victory at Boston on Thursday, and will miss the team's contest against New York on Monday.

The Cavaliers have not provided a timeline for his return.

With O'Neal sidelined, Anderson Varejao will continue to start at center.

Varejao started in place of O'Neal in Friday's victory at Toronto, scoring 11 points with eight rebounds before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

Shaq's former backup Zydrunas Ilgauskas, was traded to Washington for Antawn Jamison but is now a free agent following a buyout from the Wizards.

Ilgauskas is free to sign with any team, and could rejoin his old club after a mandatory waiting period on March 21.