Dallas Mavericks point guard Rajon Rondo will miss at least three games after breaking the orbital bone of his left eye and fracturing his nose.
Rondo missed Monday night’s game against Minnesota. The team has already said he will not travel with the team to the West Coast for games at Golden State and Sacramento later this week, and instead will remain in Dallas to undergo additional testing and evaluation.
Less than 2 minutes into Saturday night’s win at Orlando, Rondo tripped over the leg of Magic guard Elfrid Payton. While trying to get up, Rondo was inadvertently kneed in the face by teammate Richard Jefferson.
"My thoughts go out to him — I want him to get better soon," Jefferson said. "Hopefully he has a quick and speedy recovery. Luckily we have the All-Star break not far away, so hopefully that gives him some more time to get right and get back. But he’s a tough dude, a tough guy."
Coach Rick Carlisle has several guards who can run the offence, Devin Harris, J.J. Barea or Raymond Felton. Carlisle said any of them will be expected to have the same kind of role in Rondo’s absence.
"Why would it change? It’ll just be a different starter — somebody will bump up," Carlisle said. "It’s the next man up when you lose a player. Our guys have worked hard all year and we should be ready."
In 21 games since being traded to Dallas from Boston, Rondo has averaged 9.2 points and 6.5 assists per game.
The game against Minnesota was the Mavericks’ first of six games in 10 days before the All-Star break. Their next home game is Saturday against Portland.
