Scottie Barnes out of protocol, but will sit on Friday with knee injury

Toronto Raptors rookie Scottie Barnes will not play on Friday versus the Los Angeles Clippers due to a right knee injury, head coach Nick Nurse said.

Barnes recently entered the health and safety protocol on Dec. 21 and has missed the last two games for the Raptors. He was cleared from the protocol on Thursday but was added to the injury report shortly after due to tendinitis in his right knee.

Nurse said Barnes first experienced the issue this week while sidelined in the protocol. He had not previously had any discomfort in that knee until this week.

“I’m as surprised as you guys are,” Nurse said to the media prior to hosting the Clippers. “It seems kinda strange that we played a lot and he only went out because of protocols and had a lot of time off. We’ll just have to work him back in, I guess.”

Barnes has emerged as an early-season candidate for Rookie of the Year after averaging 15.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 27 games. He is second in scoring average and first in rebounding average among all first-year players.

The Raptors were previously decimated by the health and safety protocol after missing several players. They even had three games postponed because of the protocol but appear to be on the mend with players returning and getting healthier.

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