Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse told local reporters on Thursday backup point guard Fred VanVleet could return to the lineup in roughly two weeks.

VanVleet underwent surgery on his left thumb at the beginning of February to address ligament damage. He was scheduled to miss approximately five weeks.

In 51 games this season for the Raptors, VanVleet is averaging 10.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists while shooting 40.3 percent from the field, 36.6 percent from beyond the arc and 83.3 percent from the free-throw line.

VanVleet is one of the best backup point guards in the NBA. The Raptors, who have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference this season, are 37-14 when VanVleet is in the lineup. He's not as good as All-Star guard Kyle Lowry, but the 25-year-old is able to run the offense well and score from the perimeter with the second unit.

As long as VanVleet is available for the postseason, that's all that matters for the Raptors, who are looking to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. Barring some type of collapse, Toronto should clinch the No. 2 seed in the East pretty soon, which would give them home court advantage in the first two rounds of the playoffs.