TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors have announced that forward Scottie Barnes will be sidelined for a minimum of three weeks due to a fracture in his right orbital bone.

 

This injury occurred during the fourth quarter of a recent home game against the Denver Nuggets, where Barnes was inadvertently hit by Nikola Jokic while fighting for a rebound. The impact caused Barnes to fall before he managed to make his way to the bench, clearly experiencing discomfort.

 

Barnes, who was selected as an All-Star for the first time last season, has been having a strong performance, recording personal bests in several categories, including scoring, three-point shooting, rebounding, assists, and blocked shots. This season, he is averaging 19.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 6.0 assists across four games. The Raptors currently hold a record of 1-3 at the onset of the season.

 

Having been named the NBA’s rookie of the year in 2022, Barnes recently secured a contract extension that could potentially amount to approximately $270 million, contingent on fulfilling specific supermax eligibility requirements.

 

The team will need to make adjustments in Barnes’ absence as they seek to improve their early performance in the season.