Associated Press
LOS ANGELES ó Rajon Rondo side-shuffled down the floor during the Boston Celtics’ off-day stretching drills Wednesday, lagging behind the teammates he usually sprints right past.
When the time came to jump, Rondo stood in place, unable to participate because of the ankle injury that left him on the bench for most of the second half during Game 3 of the NBA finals.
The speedy point guard said he has no intention of missing Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers on tonight, but he left open the possibility that he wouldn’t be effective enough to help his team.
“Nobody in this league is 100 percent, but I’m sure I’ll play,” he said during the media availability period before practice at Staples Center. “There’s no way I’m going to miss the game, probably. I don’t want to hurt the team and go out there and not give it my all, but I think I’m sure I’ll be playing tomorrow night.”
Wearing a hard plastic brace on his left ankle ó and, when talking to reporters, no shoes ó Rondo described the injury as a bone bruise. He felt less pain after treatment with ice and a night of rest, and he expects to feel even better with another 24 hours to heal.
“I can walk on it,” Rondo said, adding that he wouldn’t be able to wear that brace during the game. “I made a walk around the hotel and I was limping a little bit, but the farther I walked the better it got.”