Rajon Rondo Says He Won't Play In Game 5 Vs. Celtics
BOSTON (CBS) -- Rajon Rondo and his fractured thumb will not play in Wednesday night's Game 5 against the Boston Celtics.
It was reported Tuesday night that Rondo would try to give it a go when the Bulls and Celtics resume their first-round playoff series in Boston, but the point guard told reporters he will not be playing after Chicago's morning shootaround on Wednesday.
"No, I'm not playing tonight. I got an X-ray yesterday and the thumb is still the same. It's still broke," he said, adding it was too early to tell if he'd be able to play in Friday's Game 6.
"I can still dribble without it, basic dribbling, but that's a big part of my game," he added. "I'd have a big cast on it while I was playing, so it's not very effective."
Rondo had a cast removed last week, but explained that it was for a wrist injury he suffered last week and didn't have anything to do with the thumb injury, which he suffered in Chicago's Game 2 win last Wednesday.
Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg said that Tuesday was the first time Rondo had touched a basketball with his right hand after suffering the injury, and his point guard remains a "long shot" to play again in the series.
Rondo was a big part of the Bulls taking the first two games of the series in Boston. He quarterbacked their offense in vintage Rondo fashion, averaging 11.5 points, 10 assists and 8.5 rebounds, while also adding 3.5 steals. Chicago's offense has sputtered without him, averaging just 91 points in Games 3 and 4 after scoring 104 points in each of the first two games of the set.
Doctors initially said it would take about two weeks for Rondo's thumb to heal, but no one was really surprised on Tuesday night when reports surfaced that he was going to try to play.
For now, it doesn't sound like he'll be a factor in the next two games of the series, which is tied 2-2. We'll have to wait and see if he'll be able to go on Sunday if the series goes seven games.
Tune in to Celtics-Bulls Game 5 on 98.5 The Sports Hub -- the flagship station of the Boston Celtics. Pregame coverage begins at 8pm!