Rajon Rondo is trying to play in Game 5 against the Celtics

Despite fracturing his right thumb earlier in the Bulls’ first-round matchup with the Celtics, Rajon Rondo is attempting to play in Game 5 tomorrow night, per a report from The Vetical’s Shams Charania. He writes, “Around Rondo and the Bulls, there’s belief that the four-time All-Star has a chance to return but a final determination has not been made, league sources said.” Marc Stein and Marc J. Spears of ESPN confirmed that initial report.

Rondo averaged 11.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 10.0 assists and 3.5 steals per game while shooting 42.3 percent from the floor in the first two games of this series, both Chicago wins. As Charania notes and Celtics fans can certainly remember, this isn’t the first time Rondo has tried to play through a significant injury:

Rondo has a history of persevering despite serious injuries, playing through a dislocated elbow in a playoff game in 2011 and playing a few minutes after tearing the ACL in his right knee in a 2013 regular-season game.

Having the chance for one last playoff game in Boston is definitely on Rondo’s mind when pursuing this comeback. He fed off that environment so well in Games 1 and 2, but it remains to be seen how effective he’ll be while hurt.

Game 5 tips off tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. on TNT.