Three games after returning from injury, Los Angeles Lakers point guard Rajon Rondo has undergone surgery on his shooting hand, the NBA team says.
Rondo suffered a grade three sprain of his right ring finger in the Lakers' Christmas Day upset of the Golden State Warriors, reportedly during a tangle with Warriors power forward Draymond Green.
He is expected to make a full recovery in four to five weeks.
The four-time All-Star returned on December 21 after having not played since November 14 when he injured his hand in the fourth quarter of a game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
In that incident, Rondo stumbled after grabbing a rebound and put his hand down in an effort to break his fall. He had surgery two days later to repair the fractured third metacarpal bone in his right hand.
In 14 games played this season, Rondo is averaging 8.4 points, 6.7 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game while shooting 45 per cent from the field, including 35.7 per cent from three-point range.
The Lakers also are without LeBron James, who suffered a groin injury in the win over the Warriors and is considered day-to-day. Both players missed Thursday night's loss to the Sacramento Kings.
The Lakers (20-15) begin a four-game homestand on Friday night versus the crosstown rival Clippers.
