Raptors forward OG Anunoby has been ruled out for Friday’s game vs. Charlotte due to a fractured right ring finger, tweets Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca. According to Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca (Twitter link), Anunoby’s finger was sore “for a while” before the All-Star break and X-rays this week showed a small fracture.
It seems safe to assume Anunoby will miss some time beyond Friday’s game due to the injury, which affects his shooting hand, Lewenberg notes. Eric Koreen of The Athletic tweets that the plan is for the 24-year-old to rest while the team further assesses the injury.
Anunoby has averaged a career-high 17.5 PPG in 42 games (36.7 MPG) for the Raptors this season, though his shooting numbers (.436/.351/.748) have dipped a little as he becomes more of a focal point in the offense. He has also averaged 5.5 RPG, 2.6 APG and 1.5 SPG.
Beginning Friday, the Raptors play six games in eight days — they have back-to-back sets Friday night and Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, and next Thursday and Friday.
As Lewenberg tweets, the Raptors may lean on newly acquired forward Thaddeus Young to play an increased role in Anunoby’s absence, though Khem Birch is probably the favorite to take Anunoby’s place in the starting lineup.
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