Vince Carter has a banged up right thumb that is annoying but not crippling. Carter admits he must alter his game to be more of a passer than a shooter.

"Right now, yeah," said Carter, averaging 16.3 points and 4.7 assists. "Like I have a choice."

Carter, who insists an X-ray is not necessary, said the thumb is affecting his shot a little bit.

"It's about getting used to the pain," Carter said. "As the game wears on, it gets better, strangely enough. It doesn't get worse."

"I don't know what to call it, just soreness. It's one of those things where you go, 'Ah, it's sore,' and you play, not tentative, but you kind of favor it."