Gordon Hayward will return ‘at some point’ in East Finals
By Ty Anderson, 985TheSportsHub.com
Help from Gordon Hayward is on the way for the Celtics.
Out of action since injuring his ankle in a Game 1 victory over the Sixers in the first round, Hayward returned to the bubble earlier this week and emerged out of quarantine Friday, participating in a pregame workout.
The footage was encouraging enough, but then came a report from the NBA on TNT’s Rebecca Haarlow, who noted that the Celtics expected Hayward ‘back sooner than later’ should they advance beyond their second-round series with the defending champion Raptors.
And the C’s did just that, downing the Raptors by a 92-87 final Friday, and with postgame confirmation from Celtics coach Brad Stevens that Hayward is indeed on the way back to action.
“I think he’ll be back at some point in that series [against Miami], but I don’t know when,” said Stevens.
Hayward, who averaged 17.5 points and a shot a career-high 50 percent from the field this season, totaled 12 points with four rebounds, four steals, and three assists in 34:27 in Game 1 before spraining his ankle.
Game 1 between the Celtics and Heat will be on Tuesday, Sept. 15.
