Toronto Raptors' Scottie Barnes out for Game 2 against Philadelphia 76ers but says ankle feeling better

PHILADELPHIA — Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse said Monday before shootaround ahead of Game 2 against the Philadelphia 76ers that rookie forward Scottie Barnes won't play, and that it was unlikely guard Gary Trent Jr. or Thaddeus Young would, either.

«Scottie's out,» Nurse said. «Gary is not here for shootaround, he's still doubtful and Thad is, I mean, he's got some damage there in his thumb. They are going to try to tape him up here today and see what it looks like here shootaround, but I would imagine he's doubtful, too.»

All three players had been listed as doubtful, as Nurse had said they would be following Sunday's practice. Barnes suffered a left ankle sprain when 76ers star Joel Embiid accidentally stepped on his foot in the fourth quarter of Game 1, while Young sprained his left thumb in the second quarter. Trent played through a non-COVID illness that bothered him in the week leading up to the game and forced him to miss Sunday's practice and Monday's shootaround.

The focus Monday, though, was on Barnes, who appeared and spoke to the media for the first time since suffering the injury, and was wearing a large boot on his left foot.

Barnes, who went down in a heap and yelled in pain before getting to his feet after a few minutes and gingerly making his way off the court and to the locker room with some assistance when the injury happened, said he initially feared it would be far worse than an ankle sprain.

«I thought it was going to be bad, man,» Barnes said. «I hit the ground and I was like, 'Damn. It's just the beginning, just getting started.

»But, afterward, I was just still trying to have positive thoughts, and keep myself into it."

One of the finalists for this year's Rookie of the Year award, Barnes was