TORONTO -- Raptors forward OG Anunoby underwent an emergency appendectomy on Thursday night, the team announced, and there is no immediate timetable for his return.
A 6-foot-8 forward, Anunoby has played a key role in the Raptors' rotation during his first two NBA seasons, both as a shooter and a versatile defender. He started 62 regular-season games and each of the Raptors 10 playoff games during his rookie season, and served largely as an understudy to forwards Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam this season.
"My first thought is what a bad break for him, just bizarre timing, and it doesn't even happen on the basketball court," Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. "He's had a difficult year, but in the past 10-12 days, I feel like he was in a really good space."
Anunoby's father died last fall, and Anunoby has battled numerous ailments over the course of the season, missing time to an injured wrist and concussion-like symptoms.
"He was starting to move around a little better, feel a little better about himself," Nurse said. "I think he was really looking forward to putting his chopped-up regular season behind him and getting a fresh start with the playoffs. But now he won't get that chance."
The Raptors, the East's second seed, begin their first-round playoff series on Saturday in Toronto against the Orlando Magic (5 p.m. ET, ESPN). Orlando features one of the biggest units in the NBA, and the Raptors anticipated Anunoby's size and physicality would be beneficial to their defensive schemes.
"He's just kind of a Swiss [Army] knife," Raptors center Marc Gasol said. "He can give you a lot of stuff defensively, offensively. He's a really unique player."
