TORONTO — RJ Barrett’s index finger wasn’t just cut open last week during a game at Dallas, it was temporarily dislocated. 

Barrett said he received six stitches after his right index finger popped out and caused the laceration following a Luka Doncic reach-in during the opening minutes of the Knicks’ overtime loss to the Mavericks on Dec. 27. 

“So my own [left] hand went into my other hand and my finger bent backwards and popped out of place, which caused the laceration. So yeah, that’s what happened,” Barrett said before missing his fifth straight game Friday, a 112-108 win over the Raptors in his hometown. “You always wanna play, definitely at home. It’s kind of disappointing, but I’m still happy to be back.” 

MSG TV announcer Mike Breen said on the air later during the Texas road trip that Barrett’s bone could be seen on video replays before he headed to the locker room, but the Knicks later corrected him and Breen clarified himself to say that a tendon was visible. 

“It popped out. I popped it back into place. I didn’t see [a bone]. I was told after it was more like tendons, I guess,” Barrett confirmed. “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. So, I still have stitches in right now … but oh, yeah. It was painful.” 

The 22-year-old Barrett said he expects to have the stitches removed in the coming week after the Knicks return to New York. He said he has been spot-shooting and running in recent days and hopes he won’t need much ramp-up time to return to action. 

“Yeah, for sure. Whenever I’m cleared and feeling good, I’ll be back,” said Barrett, who is averaging 19.7 points in 35 games this season. “The problem is, it’s a healing process, so I can’t force my body to heal. Whatever happens, like I said, I’m going back to the doctor this week, so we’ll figure it out. 

“It’s weird [missing games] … it feels weird. But yeah, just trying to do what I can, really, stay in shape the best I can, shoot, do whatever I can.” 

Said coach Tom Thibodeau: “When he’s ready, he’s ready. He’s doing more and more on the court. Of course, he hasn’t taken any contact. But he’s saying that he’s feeling a lot better. He looks like he’s moving a lot better, catching the ball better, those sorts of things. But that’s not NBA competition either.” 

Barrett also noted that the wound healing has been more concerning to him than the dislocation, which has happened before in his career. 

“It’s more of the laceration, for sure,” he said. “The dislocation, it’s just like any other time you dislocate a finger. It’s tough having it. But yeah, just trying to focus more on the laceration right now and when I get these stitches out.” 

In the absence of Barrett — and, for the three games in Texas, Jalen Brunson — Immanuel Quickley has been in the starting lineup, rotating between shooting guard and point guard. Quickley had averaged 21.2 points and 7.4 assists in 43.2 minutes per game over that stretch, and had 13 points, five rebounds and four assists against the Raptors on Friday. 

“It’s great. He’s fantastic at it,” said Brunson, who played both point guard and shooting guard in Dallas alongside Luka Doncic. “Quick has the ability to kind of switch on and off, where he’s playing on the ball or off. 

“I think my first four years, I had the same ability. But he’s way better than me when I was doing it. He’s really special.”