Raptors’ Sullinger says surgery now is better than later in the season

TORONTO — Jared Sullinger was supposed to be making his Raptors regular-season debut Wednesday night. Instead he was hobbling around on a huge cast.

The power forward and Toronto’s key acquisition in the off-season underwent surgery on Monday to have a screw inserted into the fifth metatarsal — pinkie toe — in his left foot.

Sullinger, who injured the foot in a pre-season game on Oct. 1, said the surgery was his call, and that it was necessary for preventative measures.

“We tried to let it heal and this is the safest thing, honestly,” he said. “I didn’t play for two, three weeks and I was still feeling the same pain.

“I’d rather for it to happen now than like January or February, there’s always a positive outlook on everything.”

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There’s no timeline for his return, but he’s expected to be out several weeks at least.

Rookie Pascal Siakam started at power forward in Wednesday’s 109-91 win over Detroit, and did a solid job. 

“We’re undefeated without me. . . we’re winning by 20,” Sullinger joked. “My family texted me yesterday like, ‘Wow, if you had played. . .’ I was like ‘If I had played we’d probably have won by nine. It’s kind of a good thing I got hurt.’”

He also kidded about his bulky cast, which is the size of a small trash can.

“You must not know how big my foot is. The screw’s as big as my pinky finger. I wear a size 18,” he said. “I have a picture of it on my phone. Is it weird? I just know if I ever need a screw I can just go into my foot and just screw up a chair real quick.”

On a serious note, Sullinger said he was impressed with Siakam, who grabbed nine rebounds in his NBA debut. 

“The way he played, he may take my shoes,” Sullinger said. “Honestly, being a rookie, you’re just thinking, you’re constantly thinking, constantly trying to please the coach and I tell him all the time ‘Just play your game.’

“And I thought (Wednesday), it really showed. He played. He didn’t think. He didn’t worry about what spot he needed to be in, he just went out there and played his game.”

The Raptors host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.

The Canadian Press