Toronto Raptors All-Star forward Scottie Barnes recently underwent surgery in Los Angeles to address a fracture in the third metacarpal bone of his left hand, as confirmed by the team on Monday. The injury occurred during a game against the Golden State Warriors when Barnes broke his middle finger after his hand made contact with the rim while attempting to block a shot towards the end of the first half. Following the incident, the team announced that Barnes would be sidelined indefinitely.
As a result of the injury, Barnes was unable to participate in the Raptors' recent home matchups against the Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans. Prior to the injury, Barnes had been delivering standout performances, boasting career-high averages of 19.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.3 steals across 60 games, all of which he started.
Throughout his time with the Raptors, the 22-year-old Barnes has showcased his talent consistently. He has recorded 20 or more points in 34 games and has achieved 25 double-doubles, including four triple-doubles in the current season alone. Since being selected as the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Barnes has maintained impressive career averages of 16.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 1.1 steals over 211 games, all of which he started. Notably, he was honored as the NBA Rookie of the Year for the 2021-22 season.
