The Boston Celtics could be having one of their best players return to the floor soon.
Per Taylor Snow of Celtics.com, Gordon Hayward said to reporters he could return from a broken hand injury as soon as Monday night, when the Celtics will play the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Hayward suffered a broken hand injury on Nov. 9 against the San Antonio Spurs, and he has been out for the past 13 games.
Here’s what Hayward said regarding his current status, per Celtics.com.
“The last couple of days have been really good,” he said in regard to his rehabilitation progress, before making a shocking declaration: “Tomorrow’s a possibility.”
Hayward was expected to return around late December, per Snow. Hayward said his hand is healed, but he’ll still need to regain some strength in it and work on getting back into game condition.
The last time the Celtics played the Cavs, Hayward had a career night, dropping a season-high 39 points on 85% shooting from the field in the team’s 119-113 win. The stellar performance is just part of what’s been one of Hayward’s best seasons.
Before suffering the hand injury, Hayward was averaging 18.9 points per game, his highest average since the 2016-17 season; that season was his last with the Utah Jazz. This season, Hayward is averaging career-highs in field goal percentage (55.5) and rebounds (7.1).
Hayward is the Celtics’ fourth-leading scorer this season behind Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. With those four being the core of the team, the Celtics are 16-5 and ranked second in the Eastern Conference.
