Mavericks guard Rajon Rondo has been ruled out indefinitely due to a back injury suffered in Game 2 against the Rockets, according to ESPN.
Meanwhile, forward Chandler Parsons was announced out for the season Wednesday with a right knee injury, not long after the Rondo news broke. Parsons played 37 minutes in Dallas’ Game 1 loss and scored 10 points, but was ruled out of Game 2 with the same knee injury that cost him the final six games of the regular season.
The Rondo injury comes at an interesting time. Rondo only played 34 seconds in the second half of Tuesday night's 111-99 loss as he was benched. There was no mention of an injury by coach Rick Carlisle or any other member of Dallas following the game.
Rondo struggled mightily in the first half as he played nine minutes and picked up just four points. He also committed four fouls, including a technical. The tech, along with fouls three and four, came in the first 34 seconds of the second half. The technical occurred after Rondo and James Harden exchanged words and some shoves.
After the game coach Carlisle didn't seem too pleased with his player.
Carlisle on Rondo and if he wanted to play. “You can ask him that. All I know is right now we need everyone at their competitive best."
— CBS Sports NBA (@CBSSportsNBA) Rondo left the game without talking to any reporters.
Rajon Rondo walks out of locker room, puts head phones on, refuses to talk to media.
— Nick Mathews (@Nick_Mathews) The only other time Rajon Rondo refused to comment postgame since trade to Mavs was after blowup with Rick Carlisle.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) Earlier this year Rondo and Carlisle got into a heated exchange during a game. It's no secret that the feeling between these two has not been fully repaired ever since. In fact, Yahoo! reports Rondo (who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer) will not return to the Mavs if Carlisle is retained.
Other players are even taking notice of Rondo's discomfort.
"It does look frustrating for him," Rockets forward Josh Smith told Yahoo! Sports. "And it's definitely not his fault."
Houston holds a 2-0 series lead over Dallas, so the relationship between Carlisle and Rondo may not have to last much longer. It will be interesting to see how their relationship holds up throughout the rest of the series.
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