The Los Angeles Lakers will be without their two most respected leaders on Thursday after the team ruled Rajon Rondo out against the Sacramento Kings with a sprained finger on his right shooting hand.
Already without LeBron James due to a sprained left groin, the Lakers lost Rondo to a Grade 3 sprain to his right ring finger.
Like James, Rondo suffered his injury during a 127-101 win at Golden State on Tuesday.
Neither James nor Rondo will travel to Sacramento, and both are out for the team’s game against the Kings on Thursday. The Lakers said Rondo’s status will be updated Friday when they face the LA Clippers.
This is a blow to Luke Walton’s team, since the Lakers were going to rely on Rondo’s veteran leadership and playmaking ability with James nursing a groin injury.
Rondo was terrific for the Lakers against Golden State — especially after James departed in the third quarter — and finished with 15 points, 10 assists and 5 rebounds.
Rondo had just returned Dec. 21 after missing the previous 17 games following surgery to repair a fractured third metacarpal in his right shooting hand.
Lonzo Ball will continue to start at point guard, with Brandon Ingram likely also seeing time in a playmaking role against Sacramento.