He beat the timeline by a full two weeks.
Gordon Hayward fractured his hand on a fluke play against the Spurs that required surgery to repair (he fractured the fourth metacarpal, the bone that connects the wrist to the ring finger). When he had surgery on Nov. 11, the timeline for a return was 6-8 weeks.
One month later, Hayward has been cleared to make his return Monday night against Cleveland.
#NEBHInjuryReport Update:
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 9, 2019
Gordon Hayward - AVAILABLE
Marcus Smart (left eye infection) - OUT
Romeo Langford and Robert Williams remain OUT.
Hayward to play tonight vs the Cavs according to Celtics HC Brad Stevens.
— A. Sherrod Blakely (@ASherrodblakely) December 9, 2019
This is good news for Boston and its offense. Hayward was having a bounce-back year through his first eight games, averaging 18.9 points per game, shooting 43.3 percent from three, pulling down 7.1 rebounds, and dishing out 4.1 assists per game. Even more than Kemba Walker, it was Hayward who was the playmaker for others and kept the offense flowing.
Not that Boston struggled too much with Hayward out. The Celtics went 9-4 with a +5.9 net rating in the games he missed, although the team’s offense slid back to middle-of-the-pack without his scoring and shot creation.
He’s back, and Boston — the second best team in the East so far this young season — just got a little better.
