Boston Celtics all-star forward Gordon Hayward is back in harness and helped his squad to get past the Cleveland Cavaliers, 110-88.
In his first game after got sidelined last November 9 when he injured his left hand versus the San Antonio Spurs dropped 14 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
Hayward was earlier reported that he will not be playing under a minute restriction and indeed head coach Brad Stevens utilized him for 26 minutes upon his return to the lineup.
“With the score being what it was, I didn’t want to take him out,” said Stevens. “I wanted him to get kind of to where I wanted him to play minutes-wise in the third quarter and stretch himself with 12 straight minutes. But I thought he was good.”
After experiencing the worst injury in his basketball career, it sounds like Hayward took his hand injury rehabilitation with ease.
“I think it is a lot easier this time to come back from something when you can run around and don’t have to rest your leg,” Hayward said. “… It is just my left hand, so that made it a lot easier.”