Rajon Rondo has said that adrenaline allowed him to return to the Boston Celtics' game against the Toronto Raptors despite sustaining a gash above his nose.

The point guard needed nine stitches to close the wound after being caught in the face by Greivis Vasquez's elbow during the third quarter, but he was able to come back on for the final eight minutes in the 99-90 defeat.

Rondo told ESPN: "It's just adrenaline going. I just wanted to play.

"I didn't feel like I had a concussion or anything. They asked me a couple questions. That was just about it. I got them right, because I know they're pretty cautious. A couple people didn't want me to go back out there."

Rondo finished the game with nine points.