Scottie Barnes is feeling good. It’s been a strange past few weeks for the Toronto Raptors forward who underwent his first surgery as an NBA player nearly two weeks ago to fix a fracture in the third metacarpal bone in his left hand. “Getting better day by day. Just takes some time but otherwise I’m feeling really good,” he told reporters in Detroit.
There remains no official timeline for Barnes to return this season, though it seems unlikely he will be back this season. A typical recovery would likely take Barnes right up to the end of the season and considering the way this season has gone for the Raptors, it’s unlikely Toronto will push to have him back. “I just think it was just like a weird injury,” said Barnes who sustained the injury when Immanuel Quickley accidentally kicked him in the hand trying to contest a layup from Jonathan Kuminga. If there’s a silverling for Barnes, it’s been the opportunity to watch his teammates make the most of their opportunities lately, he said. Ochai Agbaji has slid into the starting lineup for Barnes while Quickley and RJ Barrett have been tasked with taking on a bigger role.
“I’m super excited for them,” he said. “Being able to see them boys play and enjoy it. They have the opportunity out there right now and they’re taking advantage of it. So, it’s fun.” Barnes appeared in each of Toronto’s first 60 games this season before suffering the injury against the Golden State Warriors. He’s missed Toronto’s last five games with the Raptors winning just once over that stretch.
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