NBA Rumors: Rajon Rondo preparing to play in Game 5 vs. Celtics

Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo will attempt to play in Game 5 against the Celtics after suffering a thumb injury.

The Chicago Bulls won the first two games of the series against the Boston Celtics with a healthy Rajon Rondo. Chicago then lost the next two games at home without Rondo on the floor. With Rondo potentially being the difference in the series, he will try to give it a go in Game 5 despite being injured.

The story comes our way via Shams Charania of the Vertical.

Rondo, 31, has had a fantastic first two games of the playoffs thus far. Chicago is 23.2 points better per 100 possessions with Rondo on the court. He has averaged 11.5 points, ten assists, and 8.5 rebounds over the course of the two games he was able to play.

His playoff stat line simply hasn’t told the story of how important he is to the Bulls success. Rondo’s toughness, IQ, and defensive presence really changed the series in Chicago’s favor.  The Bulls were able to win the first two games on the road with their starting point guard in the lineup. Without him, Jerian Grant and Michael Carter-Williams have not been adequate replacements. There’s no secret that Isaiah Thomas has also started to find his groove without Rondo on the floor guarding him.

Rondo has been dealing with a fractured thumb that he suffered in the game two win over Boston. While originally thought to be out for the entire series, it appears he could be ready to return to action.

He had this to say following game three in which he did not play.

"“It couldn’t have come at a worse time,” Rondo said after Chicago’s Game 3 loss to Boston. “But things happen for a reason. It is what it is. I’m not sure how long I’ll be out. I plan on my body healing pretty quickly. The doctors told me a couple weeks, but we’ll see how it goes.”"

After spending the first nine years of his career with the Celtics, Rondo will likely give it his best shot to play in an attempt to beat his former team. Rondo was dealt from the Celtics in the 2014-15 season in a trade to the Mavericks that brought back a trade package that included Jae Crowder.

Next: 30 worst NBA playoff teams of all time

Game 5 of the Bulls vs. Celtics series takes place Wednesday night at 8:30 ET on TNT. The winner will go up 3-2 in the best of 7 series. If one thing is certain, the return of Rondo could be the difference in who advances in this first round matchup.