CJ McCollum, backup G

Blazers backup guard CJ McCollum moved one step closer to a return on Tuesday.

(Bruce Ely/The Oregonian)

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum has received more good news about his injured finger.

A new batch of X-rays taken Tuesday in Detroit revealed that his broken right index finger has healed enough that he can resume shooting and dribbling with his right hand. McCollum has not been cleared for basketball "contact," but he can do virtually everything else and is one step closer to returning to practice, the final hurdle to being cleared to return to a game.

The backup shooting guard did some light shooting and ball-handling at the Blazers' Tuesday morning shootaround at The Palace of Auburn Hills and reported no pain afterward. It was the first time he's done either since breaking his right index finger in three places on Nov. 17 during a game against the New Orleans Hornets.

"Things look like they're healing well, maybe better than expected," McCollum said. "The three-week mark is big ... you want to make sure the bones are healing. I have a little ways to go, but I'm still progressing toward my ultimate goal."

McCollum said it would take a couple days to build his strength back up and extend his shooting range to the three-point line. He'll also need to adjust to wearing a protective splint on his finger, which he'll need do indefinitely. But after sitting out three weeks, it was another step in the right direction.

"We'll see how it goes," McCollum said, when asked if he was on pace to return by the team's original four-week timeline. "I'll continue to stay in shape, like I've been doing, and get up shots and get used to wearing this splint before I jump back into the fire."

Based on the Blazers' four-week recovery timeline, McCollum could return next week, when the Blazers host the San Antonio Spurs (Monday) and Milwaukee Bucks (Wednesday) at the Moda Center.

--Joe Freeman | @BlazerFreeman