New York Knicks rising wing RJ Barrett will miss his fifth consecutive game when they visit his hometown team, Toronto Raptors, Friday night, and likely more.
Barrett told reporters Friday morning in Toronto that he will have his lacerated right index finger checked by team doctors this week, hoping to remove all six stitches.
The 22-year-old Knicks starting wing explained how he got the injury during the early moments of their overtime loss to the Dallas Mavericks last week.
“My own hand went into my other hand and my finger bent backward and popped out of place, which caused the laceration. So, yeah, that’s what happened. It popped out. It popped it back into place. I didn’t see the [bone]. I was told after it was more like tendons, I guess. But yeah, so I looked at my hand, it was definitely a laceration right there. So, I immediately just walked out and got stitched up. So, I still have stitches in right now.”
RJ Barrett via Newsday
But the good thing is Barrett has stayed active, keeping himself in shape by working out and doing some shooting drills while he’s out.
It was an unfortunate injury for Barrett, who had finally hit his strides after another slow start.
Over his last 10 games before the injury, Barrett averaged 25.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists while shooting 47 percent from the field and 44.6 percent from the three-point zone.
The Knicks are 3-1 since they lost Barrett to the injury and have won their last three games. They are looking for a fourth straight win in Barrett’s hometown and exact payback for their 113-106 home loss to the Raptors last Dec. 21 in a game where Pascal Siakam exploded for 52 points.
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