Rajon Rondo is up to his old tricks again.
Two weeks into the NBA season the Louisville native and former University of Kentucky standout point guard is averaging a league-best 11.3 assists per game for the Boston Celtics. That just a little over a month after having surgery to repair a broken left finger he suffered after falling in the shower at his home.
Here’s a closer look at how Rondo and a trio of University of Louisville products on NBA rosters did in the second week of the season.
Rondo (Boston Celtics): The former Eastern High School and UK standout, who is in his ninth year in the league, helped the Celtics to a 2-1 week.
He had eight points, six assists and four rebounds in Boston’s 101-98 win over Indiana last Friday. He was 4 for 10 from the field, including 0 of 1 from 3-point range, while also recording two steals, blocking one shot and committing three turnovers in 28 minutes.
Rondo then sat out the Celtics’ 106-101 win at Chicago on Saturday night in order to have a screw removed from his surgically repaired left hand.
He returned to the lineup Wednesday night and nearly had a triple-double - with 20 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds - in the Celtics’ 109-94 loss to visiting Oklahoma City. He was 8 for 15 from the field, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range, while recording two steals and committing one turnover in 36 minutes.
So far this season Rondo is averaging 10.8 points and 8.2 rebounds, to go along with his 11.3 assists, per game for the Celtics (3-4).
Gorgui Dieng (Minnesota Timberwolves): The second-year center from UofL is averaging 7.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in a reserve role for the Timberwolves (2-5).
Dieng had 11 points and 10 rebounds off the bench in Minnesota’s 112-103 overtime loss at Orlando last Friday night. He was 5 for 9 from the field and 1 of 2 from the free throw line while also recording two assists, two blocked shots and one assist in 25 minutes.
Then, he had 12 points and six rebounds in the Timberwolves’ 102-92 loss at Miami on Saturday night. He was 4 for 7 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free throw line with one blocked shot in 18 minutes.
Dieng had eight points and three rebounds in Minnesota’s 113-101 loss to Houston on Wednesday night in Mexico City. He was 3 for 7 from the field, including 0 of 1 from 3-point range, and 2 of 2 from the free throw line while blocking two shots and dishing out two assists in 14 minutes.
Francisco Garcia (Houston Rockets): The 10th year swingman from UofL is averaging 2 points in a reserve role for the Rockets (7-1).
Garcia saw his first action of the season, scoring one point in the Rockets’ 98-81 win over San Antonio last Thursday night. He was 0 for 2 from the field, including 0 of 1 from the 3-point line, and 1 for 2 from the free throw line while recording one rebound and one blocked shot in nine minutes.
Garcia then had three points two nights later as visiting Golden State handed Houston its first loss of the season, 98-87. He was 1 for 2 from 3-point range with two steals and one turnover in 10 minutes of action.
Garcia was then the only Rocket who didn’t get off the bench in Houston’s 113-101 win over Minnesota in Mexico City on Wednesday night.
Russ Smith (New Orleans Pelicans): The rookie guard from UofL, who went scoreless in his only appearance in Week 1 of the season, didn’t get off the bench for the Pelicans (4-3) this past week.
Smith received a “DNP Coach’s Decision” in New Orleans’ 100-99 win at San Antonio on Saturday night and its 118-111 loss at Cleveland on Monday night, then was inactive for the Pelicans in their 109-102 victory over the visiting Lakers on Wednesday night.
Photo courtesy of the Boston Celtics Facebook Page
