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Report: Mavs rule out Rondo for Monday
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Dallas Mavericks point guard Rajon Rondo reportedly will not play Monday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to a facial injury.
League sources told ESPN that Rondo, who suffered the injury in the first quarter of Saturday night’s win in Orlando, was scheduled to be evaluated Sunday by the Mavericks’ medical staff to establish how long he will be sidelined.
The injury occurred when Rondo tripped and was accidentally kneed in the face by teammate Richard Jefferson. Jefferson did not see Rondo on the floor as he started to sprint down the court on a fast break.
With blood pouring out of his nose, Rondo stayed down on the court for about a minute before being escorted to the locker room by the Mavs’ athletic training staff.
Coach Rick Carlisle said Rondo would be evaluated when the team returned to Dallas after the game. Carlisle declined to comment on a possible concussion.
“When there is an update, we’ll let you know. He got hit in the head, and our doctors are going to check him out back home,” Carlisle said. “That’s it.”
In 20 games since being acquired by Dallas from the Boston Celtics on Dec. 18, Rondo is averaging 9.7 points and 6.9 assists, while shooting 40 percent from the floor.
