Will Rajon Rondo play in Game 1 vs. Nuggets? Latest updates on Lakers guard's back injury

The Lakers could be without arguably their most important role player for Friday night's Western Conference finals opener against the Nuggets.

Rajon Rondo's Game 1 status is up in the air after the veteran point guard was unexpectedly added to the Lakers' official injury report. Rondo has been a major X-factor during the 2020 NBA playoffs, so it would be a significant loss for Los Angeles if he is unable to play.

MORE: Predictions, picks, schedule for 2020 Western Conference finals

Here's the latest news on Rondo ahead of Game 1:

What is Rajon Rondo's status?

UPDATE: Lakers coach Frank Vogel says Rondo is available and will not be limited by a minutes restriction.

Lakers coach Frank Vogel said Rajon Rondo will be available for Game 1 vs Denver. No minutes restriction, but Vogel said we'll "just be smart with his minutes."

— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) September 18, 2020

ORIGINAL: On the 5:30 p.m. ET injury report, Rondo was listed as questionable with back spasms.

The 34-year-old previously missed Games 3, 4 and 5 of the Lakers' first-round series against the Trail Blazers with back spasms, but he played at least 21 minutes in each of Los Angeles' five games against the Rockets in the conference semifinals. Rondo also sat out all "seeding games" in addition to Games 1 and 2 of the first round after breaking his right thumb during a July practice.

Through five postseason contests, Rondo is averaging 10.6 points, 7.0 assists and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 51.2 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from 3-point range. He offered a glimpse of "Playoff Rondo" in Game 3 vs. Houston, scoring 21 points and dishing out nine assists in a 112-102 win. 

HIGHLIGHTS: @RajonRondo pours in 21 points and 9 dimes off the bench pic.twitter.com/6oMfiG1NPi

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) September 9, 2020

"He's a floor general. He's going to put us in our right spots," Lakers forward Markieff Morris said of Rondo earlier this month. "He's going to talk to us. He's been there before. He's done it at all different levels and we're happy to have him back to lead the team."

If Rondo's back problems keep him on the bench, then Vogel will likely give more minutes to Alex Caruso and possibly Talen Horton-Tucker, who provided solid energy off the bench in the last round.

Nuggets vs. Lakers Game 1 injury report

Outside of Rondo, there aren't any big surprises here. Lakers star LeBron James has been a fixture on the injury report, but he has yet to miss a playoff game. Nuggets forward Will Barton is still outside the "bubble," and there is no timetable for his return.