Boston head coach Doc Rivers knew about Rajon Rondo’s ACL injury prior to the Celtics-Heat game on Sunday. However, the Celtics players didn’t know about the severity of the right knee injury Rondo suffered on Friday against the Atlanta Hawks until after the Heat game.
Moments after the Celtics defeated the Heat 100-98 in double overtime at TD Gardens Arena, Paul Pierce spoke with ESPN’s Doris Burke and that’s when Burke delivered the bad news to the Celtics’ team captain. Pierce’s facial reaction pretty much summed up how the Celtics felt about losing their All-Star point guard for the rest of the 2013 season.
“Oh my God!,” Pierce tells Burke. “We just gotta rally around each other. I feel for [Rondo]. He was having such a great season, making the All-Star team. It’s disappointing news, but guys gotta be ready to step up.”
Watch the interview:
“Obviously the Rondo news is pretty tough. I knew it before the game, no one else knew it,” Rivers said. “I told them after the game. Pretty emotional in the locker room.”
Rondo was averaging career highs of 13.7 points and 5.6 rebounds along with 11.1 assists this season.
A very somber Kevin Garnett added, “It’s tough on everybody. [Rondo] has become the heart and soul of this team, coming into his own. We just try to be supportive for him.”