Lakers guard Rondo out for a month after finger surgery

LA, December 29: Los Angeles Lakers guard Rajon Rondo has undergone surgery on a sprained right ring finger and will be sidelined for four or five weeks, the team have announced.

The 32-year-old suffered the injury on Tuesday in the Lakers’ win over the Golden State Warriors, before sitting out Thursday's loss at the Sacramento Kings.

After reports suggested Rondo would miss a month, Los Angeles confirmed the expected length of his absence on Friday.

Rondo missed 17 games earlier this season after breaking the same hand against the Portland Trail Blazers in November. He had returned only last week and appeared in three games before suffering the finger injury.

OFFICIAL: Rajon Rondo, who suffered a Grade 3 sprain to his right ring finger during Tuesday’s game at Golden State, underwent successful surgery today to repair a ligament in that finger.

Rondo is expected to make a full recovery in 4-5 weeks. https://t.co/8idGYHksz8

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 28, 2018

The Lakers also are without star LeBron James, who strained his groin against the Warriors and is expected to miss several games.

Los Angeles are 20-15 after the defeat to the Kings, tied for fifth place in the NBA's Western Conference ahead of Friday's fixtures.