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Rajon Rondo will be game-time decision to play against Clippers, Frank Vogel declines to reveal starters

Rajon Rondo has been dealing with a sore calf but could play as the Lakers open their season against the Clippers. Meanwhile, Frank Vogel is holding off on revealing who will start until before the game.

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Golden State Warriors v Los Angeles Lakers Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

When the Los Angeles Lakers sent out their game notes to the media on the morning of their season-opener against the LA Clippers, Rajon Rondo was listed as “questionable.” It would appear that in the time between those notes and shootaround happening, head coach Frank Vogel got a somewhat positive update, as Rondo has been upgraded to a game-time decision, according to Mike Trudell of Lakers.com:

Rondo missed the final two Lakers preseason games, and averaged 8.7 points, 3.3 assists and 3 turnovers during his three games played as part of the team’s exhibition slate.

While those averages aren’t eye-popping — or at least not in a good way — Vogel had previously said that Rondo was in contention for a starting role on the team. Vogel still (at least publicly) has not rule Rondo out as a starter, as he said he’d wait until closer to the game to reveal his starters for the opener:

Vogel not giving up his starters at shootaround is hardly surprising, even if it seems unlikely he hasn’t already made his decision. The team hasn’t played a game yet, and there is little benefit in giving the Clippers a few extra hours to gameplan around whichever starters he’ll eventually choose. It’s also possible he still wants a little bit more time to think (or to see if Rondo can play) before making a final decision.

Expect to learn whether Rondo is playing and who Vogel plans to start a little closer to 6:00 p.m. tonight, which is when Vogel will speak with the media pregame. The Lakers tip off against the Clippers at 7:30 p.m. PST, and the game will be televised locally on Spectrum Sportsnet and nationally on TNT.

UPDATE: As of a few hours before the game, it looks like Rondo will not start (or play at all).

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