Jakob Poeltl Exits Early for Raptors vs Hornets
The injuries keep piling up.
Jakob Poeltl was forced to exit Sunday’s game with a dislocated left pinky finger and will not return for the Toronto Raptors, the team announced.
It’s unclear when Poeltl sustained the injury, but the 28-year-old center checked out with 42 seconds to go in the second quarter and did not return. He walked to the locker room where he was diagnosed with the dislocation.
X-Rays came back negative for a fracture, but Poeltl is undergoing further testing, Raptors coach Darko Rajaković said post-game.
Toronto began the second half with Kelly Olynyk and will now rely on Jontay Porter as the team’s backup big.
It’s the latest injury for Toronto who is already battling the absence of Scottie Barnes who suffered a fracture in his left hand Friday night. The Raptors were forced to turn to Ochai Agbahi in the starting lineup with Barnes sidelined.
Barnes has already been ruled out indefinitely and is seeing a specialist to decide on the next steps in his recovery. Surgery has not been ruled out and would likely end his season.
Poeltl missed 11 games earlier this year due to a left ankle sprain he suffered in January.
