RJ Barrett explained to reporters on Friday that his lacerated finger actually did not happen by the hand of Luka Doncic.
No, it’s actually far more gruesome than that.
Barrett, still out with what the Knicks called a lacerated right finger, says that the injury actually happened by his own hand, and when Doncic reached around and knocked the ball loose on a baseline drive in the opening minute of the first quarter, Barrett’s right hand came around and smashed into his left hand, and it was his left hand that led to the laceration.
But, there’s more. The laceration was actually a result of his finger dislocating, and the bone cut through the skin, resulting in six stitches after his tendon popped out.
"It popped out. I popped it back into place," Barrett said, via the New York Post. "I didn’t see [a 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 it stitched up. I still have stitches in right now...But oh, yeah. It was painful."
The stitches are still in Barrett’s finger, so it seems as if he still has a bit to go before returning to action. He hasn’t played since the injury on Dec. 27, and was playing some of his best basketball before it occurred. Over his last 10 games, Barrett is shooting 46 percent from downtown and averaging 23.5 points per game.
New York is 3-1 without Barrett so far, but they would love to have their starter back and one of their top scorers. Barrett, per Fred Katz of The Athletic, has been working out and shooting despite the injury, and once the stitches come out, he won’t need much time before returning. The stitches are expected to be removed “later this week.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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