Raptors' Barnes out at least 3 weeks with orbital fracture
Toronto Raptors star Scottie Barnes will be out at least three weeks after suffering a right orbital fracture in Monday's loss to the Denver Nuggets, the team announced Wednesday, according to The Athletic's David Aldridge.
Nuggets center Nikola Jokic elbowed the former Rookie of the Year in the face as the two players fought over a rebound with 24 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Barnes was helped to the locker room and didn't return for the game's five-minute overtime period.
The 23-year-old didn't travel to Charlotte for the team's Wednesday night tilt against the Hornets. He'll be re-evaluated in three weeks.
Barnes is averaging 19.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and six assists through his first four games. He inked a five-year maximum rookie extension with Toronto over the summer.
The 1-3 Raptors have already been bitten by the injury bug: Immanuel Quickley, Kelly Olynyk, Bruce Brown, and RJ Barrett have each missed at least two games.