LOS ANGELES — On the night when LeBron James reached a historic milestone, the Los Angeles 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 Blazers that the veteran point guard broke his shooting hand. Walton said Rondo is expected to be out for an extended period of time.
“He hit his hand on the floor when he went to steal that ball,” Walton said of Rondo making a steal late in the game. “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 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.”