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Rondo out for Game 5: 'I think I'm Wolverine but it hasn't healed'

Gary Dineen / National Basketball Association / Getty

If Rajon Rondo is going to make a return to the Chicago Bulls' series against the Boston Celtics, it will not come in Wednesday's Game 5.

Rondo told reporters he's out for the pivotal contest in Boston as he continues to deal with a fractured right thumb. "It's still broke," Rondo said, according to the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson.

"My thumb is the same as it was last week," he said. "I think I'm 'Wolverine' but it hasn’t healed that quickly yet."

Rondo reportedly had a workout session in hopes of playing Wednesday, but a source for that story indicated that he was erring on the side of waiting until Game 6. However, Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said it is still "a long shot" that Rondo returns to the series.

Chicago dropped two straight at home after taking a 2-0 series lead in Boston. The turnaround is traced directly to Rondo's absence. The Bulls had an 8.4 net rating in the two games with their point guard, and are minus-11.3 without him.

The fracture is to the thumb on Rondo's shooting and primary ball-handling hand.

"I'm not worried about somebody else slapping it. I’m worried about the way I play," Rondo said. "Diving on the floor, trying to get my hand in on loose balls. I play on instincts. I can't go in there with my finger tucked and trying to steal the ball. The game doesn’t work like that. I don’t want to hurt my teammates trying to be a hero and be 65 percent."

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