Heat forward Mike Miller injured the thumb on his shooting hand last week while guarding teammate LeBron James.

"I heard a pop," said Miller, who attended the team's practice on Sunday. "I knew from the beginning it wasn't a good thing."

Miller had surgery Friday to repair a torn ligament and his fractured thumb. He is expected to be out at least until January.

He tried to convince the team that he could play through the injury.

"I felt like if we wrapped it up and splinted it, it would be all right, but obviously we have to listen to the doctors and they forced me to have the surgery, which down the road will probably be a good thing," Miller said.

"Right now it doesn't feel like it, but it is what it is now, I have to make the most of it."