Toronto Raptors star Scottie Barnes will be sidelined for at least three weeks after going down with a right orbital fracture, the team announced Wednesday.
Barnes was subbed out of Monday’s 127-125 overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets after taking an elbow in the eye from Nikola Jokić in the paint. Jokić was battling Raptors center Jakob Poeltl for a rebound in the middle of the court when his left elbow swung back and accidentally drilled Barnes directly in the eye.
Scottie Barnes left the game with less than 30 seconds left after this elbow to Nikola Jokic’s face.
The Nuggets just forced OT in Toronto.pic.twitter.com/n8lkziKtHF
— Link Points (@Link Points) October 29, 2024
Barnes stayed in the game to finish the play, but the Raptors then called a timeout and he left for the locker room. The Nuggets forced overtime during that series and ultimately took the two-point victory. That marked a 15-point comeback for Denver and delivered its first win of the season.
Barnes finished with a team-high 21 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in that loss, dropping the Raptors to 1-3 on the year.
Barnes averaged 19.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and six assists this season. The former Rookie of the Year posted career-highs of 19.9 points and 8.2 rebounds last season while earning his first All-Star nod. The 23-year-old Barnes also signed a five-year maximum rookie extension last season.
If Barnes is out for just three weeks, he could return in time for their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 21. That would mean he has only missed eleven games.
The Raptors will take on the Charlotte Hornets in North Carolina on Wednesday night. Toronto went just 25-57 last season and missed the playoffs for the second year in a row.