According to ESPN Insider Shams Charania, Toronto Raptors Small Forward Scottie Barnes will be sidelined for “several weeks” with a right ankle injury. He suffered the injury in Monday’s home loss to the New York Knicks. Barnes was the Rookie of the Year in 2021-22 and made his first NBA All-Star Game last season.
Barnes missed 11 games earlier this season after being hit in the face by Denver Nuggets Center Nikola Jolic. The Raptors forward suffered an orbital fracture on the play. Barnes is averaging career highs across the board this season averaging 20.6 points per game, 8.4 rebounds, and 7.4 assists. How will the Toronto Raptors fare without their star player for an extended time?
Toronto Raptors Season Summary
https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1866860983567737099
Toronto(7-18) has struggled mightily through the first part of the regular season. They are currently the 14th seed in the Eastern Conference. Their offense has been average this season as they are 16th in points per game, 15th in field goal percentage, and 23rd in three-point percentage.
With Barnes sidelined, the team will rely on Shooting Guard RJ Barrett and Center Jakob Poeltl. Poetl is having a career season as he is fifth in the league and seventh in the NBA in field goal percentage. Toronto’s defense has also been average this season as they are 25th in points allowed and 10th in opposing field goal percentage. Toronto, thanks in large part to their youth, have lost countless close games this season. Ten of their 18 losses have been by single digits this season.
Final Thoughts
Toronto returns to the court tomorrow when they visit the Miami Heat. The Raptors have a few days off before beginning a three-game homestand on December 16 against the Chicago Bulls. They will also host the Brooklyn Nets and Houston Rockets on the homestand. Barnes’ career season was not translating to success on the court, and with him set to miss even more time, the Toronto Raptors may be in even worse shape when he is healthy again.
