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.
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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.
