Is Scottie Barnes expected to play against the Miami Heat tonight? Assessing the availability of the former Rookie of the Year for Thursday’s game.

Scottie Barnes is marked as unavailable in the Toronto Raptors’ injury report for their upcoming game against the Miami Heat on Thursday. The reigning 2022 Rookie of the Year sustained the injury during the match against the New York Knicks on Monday.

Barnes suffered a sprained right ankle with 6:47 minutes remaining in the third quarter and was unable to continue playing. The injury happened as Barnes tried to block a shot by Karl-Anthony Towns and landed on the Knicks center’s foot. Following the incident, Barnes was visibly in pain after rolling his ankle. He concluded the game with 15 points, five rebounds, and three assists in 22:50 minutes of play.

ESPN’s Shams Charnia provided an update on the injury on Wednesday:

“Toronto Raptors star Scottie Barnes is anticipated to be out for several weeks due to a right ankle injury sustained on Monday, sources inform ESPN. Barnes is currently averaging career highs of 20.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 7.4 assists for this season.”

This will mark Barnes’ second prolonged absence of the season, having previously missed 11 consecutive games between Oct. 30 and Nov. 18 due to an orbital fracture. He serves as the team leader, and Toronto has struggled to secure wins without him, going 2-9 during his previous absence. Currently, the Raptors are placed 14th in the East with a record of 7-18.

In addition to Barnes, Toronto will also be without Bruce Brown (knee) and Immanuel Quickley (left elbow) for the upcoming game.

How has Scottie Barnes performed against the Miami Heat in the past?

Scottie Barnes has faced the Miami Heat 11 times in the regular season so far, winning 6 out of those games. His averages against the Heat stand at 18.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game.

His highest scoring game against Miami occurred during a 121-111 defeat on Nov. 29 this season, where Barnes achieved a triple-double with 24 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds, along with a steal and a block.

Where and how to watch Toronto Raptors vs Miami Heat?

The Toronto Raptors vs Miami Heat game is set to take place at 7:30 p.m. EST on Thursday, Dec. 12, at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. The game will be televised locally on FanDuel Sports Network Sun and SN Now. Viewers can also stream the game live on NBA League Pass and FuboTV, both of which require active subscriptions.