BOSTON (AP) — Rajon Rondo moved closer to returning to the court almost a year after injuring his right knee, going through a test workout at the team’s practice facility in the afternoon and then joining his Celtics teammates for warmups before Wednesday night’s game against the Toronto Raptors.
Also Wednesday, the Celtics announced that they had traded away backup point guard Jordan Crawford ”“ a further indication that Rondo’s return was imminent.
Rondo was on the court at the TD Garden, shooting around a couple of hours before the game. The four-time All-Star came out with the team for warmups before tipoff in his warmup clothes, and took a spot on the bench when the game began.
“I don’t see him playing tonight,” coach Brad Stevens said in his pregame briefing for reporters. “It would be more be more about getting into that game rhythm a little bit.”
Celtics spokesman Brian Olive said the closed workout of unknown duration took place in Waltham, Mass., with members of the Maine Red Claws, Boston’s NBA Development League affiliate. Stevens said he watched the workout for a few minutes but hadn’t spoken to Rondo afterward.
“It accomplished what we wanted it to accomplish,” Stevens said. “He’s going to go through some shooting. … I think it was more about him getting up and down the floor.”
Rondo was not available for comment.
Stevens said earlier in the week that Rondo would be put through some physical workouts to make sure he is ready. One of those workouts was on Wednesday, when the Celtics announced at 12:26 p.m. that he had been assigned to the Maine Red Claws of the Development League and then announced at 2:19 p.m. that he had been recalled.
“Rajon is progressing terrifically in his rehab and this is the next step,” general manager Danny Ainge said.
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