NBA: Rondo ruled out of Celtics clash

Rajon Rondo #9 of the Chicago Bulls drives past Nik Stauskas #11 of the Philadelphia 76ers at the United Center on March 24, 2017, in Chicago, Illinois. AFP FILE

CHICAGO, United States — Chicago Bulls star Rajon Rondo was ruled out of his team’s crucial playoff clash with the Boston Celtics on Wednesday after failing to recover from a broken right thumb.

Rondo told reporters he was not fit to face the Celtics later Wednesday in Game 5 of the two sides’ Eastern Conference battle, which is finely balanced at 2-2.

“I’m not playing,” Rondo said. “The slightest fall on the floor might further damage it. … My thumb is the same as it was last week. I think I’m Wolverine but it hasn’t healed that quickly yet.”

Rondo excelled for the Bulls to help them take a 2-0 series lead.

But he missed Games 3 and 4 with the injury as Boston fought back to level the series.

Rondo, who averaged 7.8 points, 6.7 assists and 5.1 rebounds in 69 games this season, said recovering in time for Game 5 had always been unlikely.

But he did not rule himself out of Friday’s Game 6.

“I got an X-ray (Tuesday). The thumb is still the same. It’s still broke,” Rondo said Wednesday.

“I knew last week it wasn’t going to be fixed in a week. My finger is broken.” CBB