Chicago Bulls guard Rajon Rondo has been one of the main reasons why the Bulls have been able to take a shocking 2-0 lead in their series with the top-seeded Boston Celtics.
Now, the Bulls will have to look to other players to step up as Rondo suffered a fractured right thumb in Game 2 and is out indefinitely.
Rondo has been a terror against the Celtics, his former team, in this series averaging 11.5 points and 10 assists in Games 1 & 2.
Jerian Grant will take Rondo’s place in the starting lineup for Game 3 on Friday in Chicago where the Bulls will look to go up 3-0 on Boston.
The Bulls have indicated that Rondo’s injury will not require surgery but a conflicting report from ESPN’s Chris Hayes states that the injury is “pretty serious” and Rondo’s return will depend on how far the Bulls can advance in the playoffs.
Rondo’s 14 assists in Game 2 tied a Bulls playoff record and fell one rebound shy of becoming the first Bulls player to notch a playoff triple-double since Scottie Pippen back in 1997.
The Bulls know how important Rondo has been in this series.
“It’s key when you have a point guard like him that controls the whole game,” Bulls guard Dwyane Wade said after Game 2. “You’ve just got to play. Tonight, our job was easy. We just had to play. As I told him, ‘Way to run your team.’ So he did an amazing job of that.”
Now, Rondo’s teammates need to step up.