Raptors star Scottie Barnes exits Knicks game early due to injury

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The Raptors are holding their breath after franchise player Scottie Barnes had to leave Monday’s game against the New York Knicks early after appearing to injure his right ankle while trying to block a shot by Karl-Anthony Towns around the midway point of the third quarter.

Barnes, who missed 11 games earlier this season due to a fractured right orbital bone but was playing in his 10th game since the injury, was in the midst of another strong game when the incident occurred.

Barnes stayed on the floor for a while while Towns walked gingerly to the bench, but stayed in the game. Barnes was eventually helped to the sidelines and then hopped into the tunnel toward the Raptors locker-room without putting any weight on his leg.

He did not return due to a right ankle sprain, the Raptors said.

Barnes had scored 15 points, hitting three three-pointers for the third time in his previous four games after doing that just twice all season prior, along with five rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes.

An all-star for the first time last season, Barnes has averaged a career-best 21 points, 7.8 assists and 8.7 rebounds in 13 games this season.

Barnes missed 22 games in 2023-24 after only missing 13 over his first two seasons.

Toronto does not play again until Thursday in Miami and then not again until hosting Chicago next Monday. Starting point guard Immanuel Quickley has played only three games due to injuries and head coach Darko Rajakovic said Monday there was no update on his status, but he’ll get more imaging done this week to see how his recovery is going.