Raptors’ Barnes Expected to Miss Weeks

There is some troubling news north of the boarder. The Toronto Raptors lost more than a game on a random Monday night in December when the New York Knicks came to town to pay them a visit.

According to ESPN’s Senior NBA Insider Shams Charania, Ontario’s homegrown star Scottie Barnes will be on the shelf for “several weeks” after suffering an ankle injury during a 113-108 loss to the Knicks. That span will likely include a rematch with New York scheduled to take place on Monday, December 23 at the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden.

Barnes, 23 years old, is one of the cornerstones of the Raptor rebuild, along with RJ Barrett and is coming off his inaugural All-Star Game appearance. He was averaging a career-high 20.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 7.4 assists prior to this injury and had 15 points with five rebounds before he was forced to leave the game on Monday. Barnes sustained the injury when he collided with Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns during third quarter action and did not return.

After the collision occurred, things did not look promising. Barnes could not put weight on the ankle and needed assistance from the training leaving the court. The team announced on Wednesday that Barnes suffered a sprain and would undergo further imaging.

Any significant progress the Raptors (7-18) were hoping to make this season in the weaker Eastern Conference has been put on hold by injuries to key players. Barnes, the 2021-22 NBA Rookie of the Year, who drafted with the No. 4 pick out of Florida State, already has had to miss a chunk of time, 11 games, because of an orbital fracture, which required the use of protective goggles upon his return to the hardwood, while Immanuel Quickley, a former Knick and the recipient of a lucrative offseason extension, has played in only three games thanks to a nagging elbow injury.

One of the few bright spots for the Raptors has been the emergence of their native son Barrett, who stands as the team’s leading scorer at 23.6 points a game. Barrett and Quickley came to Toronto in late December when the Knick sent them over in exchange for a package featuring Precious Achiuwa and OG Anunoby.

The Raptors begin life without Barnes again on Thursday night when they face Tyler Hero and the Miami Heat (7:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet).