Toronto Raptors starting center Jonas Valanciunas is set to miss a spell of time due to injury.
The Raptors announced that Valanciunas fractured his left metacarpal in his left hand, his non-shooting hand, during Friday’s win against the Los Angeles Lakers, according to the Associated Press.
The 7-foot Valanciunas suffered the injury in the final minute of the first half, when Kobe Bryant fouled him under Toronto’s basket. He finished the game with three points and three rebounds in 18 minutes.
During Valanciunas 2012-2013 rookie season, the same injury sidelined him for 18 games. A timetable for Valanciunas’ return is currently unknown.
It is an unfortunate blow for the 8-6 Raptors, as the 23-year-old Valanciunas has anchored the middle, averaging 12.7 points and 9.3 rebounds in 14 games, making him the Raptors’ third-leading scorer and leading rebounder this season. Both numbers are career highs.
“It's unfortunate, and we're definitely going to miss him because of what we do, so it's next man up right now,” Kyle Lowry, Raptors point guard, said.
According to Yahoo’s Shams Charania, Valanciunas has opted to forgo surgery, instead choosing to undergo rehab.
With Valanciunas, the fourth-year veteran, set for a spell on the sidelines, backups Bismack Biyombo and Anthony Bennett could potentially be in line for more minutes as the Raptors deal with Valanciunas’ absence.
Biyombo started the second half at center for the Raptors on Friday, finishing the game with one point and four rebounds.
Valanciunas had signed a four-year contract extension worth $64 million this past offseason, as he only had one year left in his current deal.