Jonas Valanciunas has been enjoying a Sixth Man of the Year type season for the Toronto Raptors, but his momentum has been halted. The Raptors announced on Thursday that the big man has undergone surgery on his left thumb and will be out for at least four weeks.
Jonas Valanciunas injury update. pic.twitter.com/vZfzPxlWnG
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) December 13, 2018
In the second quarter of Toronto's 113-93 blowout win over the Golden State Warriors, Valanciunas exited the game with a dislocated left thumb after Draymond Green attempted to steal the ball and appeared to have hit the Raptors' centre.
Valanciunas left the game shortly after in obvious pain and did not return.
The 26-year-old had appeared in all 30 games and is averaging 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds on 57.5 percent shooting from the field. He is one of three players to appear in every game for the Raptors along with Danny Green and Pascal Siakam.
Valanciunas has been a steady presence over the year in Toronto, appearing in more games than any other Raptors player since the start of the 2013-14 season and has missed just seven games total over the previous two seasons.
Veteran Greg Monore stepped in and picked up the extra minutes against Golden State, finishing the game with five points and five rebounds.
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With Valanciunas expected to miss at least a month, the Raptors have reportedly called Chris Boucher up from the G League. Boucher has been dominating for the Raptors 905 this season and just set the team's franchise record for points with 47 on Wednesday.
