Raptors' Barnes out indefinitely with broken hand
Toronto Raptors All-Star Scottie Barnes is out indefinitely after fracturing the third metacarpal bone of his left hand, the team announced Friday.
Barnes appeared to suffer the injury when teammate Immanuel Quickley's foot inadvertently struck Barnes' left hand underneath the Raptors' basket in the second quarter of Friday's contest versus the Golden State Warriors. Barnes left the game immediately following the incident and didn't return.
Scary stuff for Raptors fans. Scottie Barnes smacks his hand against the rim and is in so much pain he can't even catch the pass. He then immediately sprints to the locker room after intentionally fouling to get out of the game. pic.twitter.com/anZLlKn231
— Hot Hand Theory (@HotHandTheory) March 2, 2024
The 22-year-old is having a career season in his third year, averaging 19.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks. Barnes has played in all 60 of the Raptors' contests this season, a streak almost certain to end in their next game Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets.
Barnes finished with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a steal in 16 minutes before bowing out in Friday's 120-105 loss to Golden State. He was also the only player on the Raptors to finish with a positive plus-minus (plus-6).
Though not initially voted into the All-Star Game by fans, media, and coaches, he was tabbed by commissioner Adam Silver as an injury replacement.
In Monday's win over the Indiana Pacers, Barnes set a single-season franchise record with his fourth triple-double of the campaign. The former Florida State standout is up to five in his career, tying Pascal Siakam for the second-most ever recorded by a Raptor; only Kyle Lowry (16) has more.
Playing without their franchise star for the foreseeable future could still produce a silver lining for the Raptors.
As a result of the 2023 trade for center Jakob Poeltl, Toronto will convey its own first-rounder in this year's draft to the San Antonio Spurs if it falls outside the top six. The Raptors currently own the seventh-worst record in the league at 22-38 - two games better than the sixth-worst Memphis Grizzlies. However, if the Raptors retain their pick, their obligation toward the Spurs will roll over to 2025, again protected for picks Nos. 1-6. If it again fails to change hands, it'll carry over one final time to 2026 under the same restrictions before conveying as two second-round picks, if necessary.