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LOS ANGELES — On the night when LeBron James reached a historic milestone, the Lakers suffered a significant loss when Rajon Rondo fractured the third metatarsal in his right hand.
Lakers coach Luke Walton revealed after the 126-117 win over the Portland Trail Blazers that the veteran point guard broke his shooting hand.
Lakers star LeBron James passed Wilt Chamberlain for fifth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list Thursday night. He now has 31,425 points for his career, with his childhood idol, Michael Jordan, next up at No. 4.
Los Angeles has come a long way since its opening night loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
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Rondo will see a specialist Thursday to determine whether surgery will be his best course of action, a team source told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. The Lakers are operating under the assumption that Rondo will be out three to five weeks, depending on the decision regarding surgery and the healing process, the source said.
Rondo declined to speak about the injury.
“I’m not talking about it,” he said as he walked down the hallway outside the locker room on his way out of the arena.
Walton said Rondo was injured while making a steal late in the game.
“He hit his hand on the floor when he went to steal that ball,” Walton said. “They [the medical staff] are getting all the details. I just know he will be out for a few weeks.”
Rondo has at times played like the Lakers’ best point guard off the bench. He missed three games earlier in the season after being suspended for a fight with the Houston Rockets’ Chris Paul in the second game of the season.
The injury spoiled a night when James passed Wilt Chamberlain for fifth place on the all-time scoring list.
“To me, [Rondo has] done an incredible job of getting that second group playing in an incredible rhythm,” Walton said. “Think that whole group really counts on his playmaking and leadership.
“There obviously isn’t another Rondo to put out there, so as a group we have to do a little more to make up for it.”
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