As the Toronto Raptors deal with a difficult two-game stretch, the team is facing a notable injury concern. The veteran forward, Scottie Barnes, is dealing with a setback.
During the February 24 matchup between the Raptors and the Thunder, Barnes suffered what was described as a right quadriceps bruise. Following the Raptors’ 116-107 loss, Barnes’ status for the following game instantly came into question. Unfortunately, there are no good answers just yet.
Scottie Barnes Will Be On The Injury Report vs Spurs
Getty ImagesDuring the Raptors-Thunder matchup, the veteran Scottie Barnes left the game with an injury.
According to Sportsnet’s Michael Grange, the Raptors are going into the Spurs matchup with Barnes listed as questionable.
When Barnes left the clash against the Thunder, he checked out after seeing the court for 32 minutes. The veteran forward shot 7-17 from the field, while producing 15 points. He also had seven assists, three rebounds, three steals, and four blocks. Despite Barnes’ ability to stuff the stat sheet, he couldn’t help the Raptors seal the deal against the Western Conference leaders.
With that loss, the Raptors dropped to 34-24 on the year.
While it’s a positive sign that Barnes can’t be ruled out this early, signaling that the setback isn’t severe, the Raptors will have to move with caution when it comes to Barnes. He is one of the most valuable players on the team, and getting to the playoffs healthy will be key for Barnes and the Raptors.
What’s Next For Barnes And The Raptors
GettyScottie Barnes and the Toronto Raptors will look to bounce back against the San Antonio Spurs.
Playing against contenders in back-to-back games is never easy in the NBA. It’s especially difficult when both teams are considered top-two. This season, the Spurs are 41-16, heading into their matchup against Toronto. They are in the midst of a league-leading nine-game winning streak.
The Spurs anticipated being playoff contenders in the Western Conference this year, but that was underselling their threat level. The Thunder were once viewed as a team that couldn’t be touched. The Spurs are within three games of the first seed.
As for the Raptors, they’ve been one of the more surprising units this year. Last season, the Raptors were in the tanking conversation. This year, they are in the top five within the Eastern Conference.
With a 34-24 record, the Raptors have a two-game lead over the Philadelphia 76ers for the fifth seed in the East. As long as the Raptors can maintain their position within the top six, they’ll enter the playoffs without the need for an NBA Play-In Tournament bid.
This season, Barnes appeared in 55 games before the matchup against the Thunder. Leading up to the start of the back-to-back set, Barnes was averaging 19 points per game for the third-straight year. However, he’s shooting more efficiently this season, making 50 percent of his shots. Along with his scoring, Barnes is averaging 8.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game.
Barnes will likely be considered a game-time decision on February 25. The Spurs and the Raptors are slated for a 7:30 PM ET tip.