Toronto Raptors All-Star forward Scottie Barnes will miss a minimum of three weeks because of a right orbital fracture, the team announced Wednesday. He will be re-evaluated then and “his condition will be updated as appropriate,” the team announced.
Barnes suffered the injury late in Monday night’s overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets. After missing a short shot in the fourth quarter, Barnes crashed for an offensive rebound, catching an inadvertent elbow from Nikola Jokić. Barnes remained on the floor as the Nuggets went the other way and scored. The Raptors called timeout, with Barnes holding his face as he went to the bench and, eventually, the locker room. The Nuggets forced overtime by scoring on their final three possessions, with Barnes either at the other end or off the floor entirely.
After a rough season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Barnes strung together three consecutive productive games. He was one assist shy of a triple-double against the Nuggets, and is averaging 19.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game.
The Raptors signed Barnes, 23, to a five-year maximum-value rookie extension in the offseason. The deal will start at 25 percent of next year’s salary cap, but would jump up to 30 percent if he makes an All-NBA team. That is projected to be the difference between $225 million and nearly $270 million over the term of the deal. Barnes would need to play a minimum of 65 games to be considered for an all-NBA honor this season.
The Raptors have been as hard hit by injuries as any team in the league. Immanuel Quickley, the other player the Raptors gave a long-term deal this offseason, suffered a pelvic contusion after a hard fall in the first half against Cleveland. The Raptors listed Quickley as doubtful for Wednesday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets. RJ Barrett missed the Raptors’ last four preseason games and first three regular-season games because of an AC joint sprain, playing for the first time against Denver.
The Raptors have also been without key reserves Kelly Olynyk (back) and Bruce Brown (knee). Rookie Ja’Kobe Walter, the team’s first-round pick, suffered a sprained AC joint on the even of training camp, and is just now getting back to action with Raptors 905, the Raptors’ G League affiliate.
Veteran Chris Boucher and rookie Jonathan Mogbo should see increased playing time in Barnes’ absence.
Required Reading:
- Scottie Barnes’ growth as a leader will be measured by how he plays in the bad moments
- Jamal Shead, Jonathan Mogbo hint at early-season developmental wins for Raptors
(Top photo: John E. Sokolowski / Imagn)
