Jay King: Brad Stevens said Gordon Hayward will likely return to practice Sunday.
Storyline: Gordon Hayward Injury
384 rumors in this storyline
More Rumors in this Storyline
Hayward added that he expects to be dealing with effects from the injury throughout the season. “It’s definitely something where, hopefully not the rest of the season, but certainly a lengthy part of the season, I’m going to have to continue to get treatment, continue to ice it and kind of manage some of the symptoms,” Hayward said. “I don’t want it to get hit again, but I’m sure it will get hit again, and when that happens it’ll be sore. So I’ll manage that. But it’ll be something I deal with for the rest of the year.”
The initial Celtics timetable had Hayward projected to return six weeks after the surgery just ahead of Christmas and there has been no adjustment to that plan as of now. “It’s still hard to say exactly,” Hayward admitted when asked about a return plan. “But we have some good days here at home where I can practice and really do the things I want to do and kind of feel it out and see how it responds. I did a lot on it today, so I think it’s going to be more sore. It might swell up, so hopefully as soon as I’m done here go ice it and get some of the swelling down and kind of just take it day by day.”
On Tuesday, Hayward practiced with the team — stepping aside for live run to be an official, according to Brad Stevens — but he did something resembling contact drills with Celtics coaches. “I played a little kind of like hybrid contact today with coaches and stuff,” Hayward told reporters. “It’s definitely sore and I think that’s something I’ve got to work through. I’ve got to work through that to make my hand stronger, and hopefully over the next couple of days I can do that and get it kind of more the same strength of my right hand. I think it’s going to be a little while, and plus I was right-hand dominant anyway. So it’s definitely going to probably not be the exact same, but get it more strengthened so the percentage is closer to my right.”
Jay King: Gordon Hayward expects for deal with symptoms from his injury for a while after he returns. He did some structured contact drills with coaches today, cracked that they’re not exactly NBA players.
A. Sherrod Blakely: Gordon Hayward will have another meeting on Monday via FaceTime with his doctor to discuss the healing process on his surgically repaired left hand to see what’s the next step in his recovery process, according to #Celtics head coach Brad Stevens.
Jared Weiss: Important Gordon Hayward update: Hayward was able to continue gaming after the injury and said it actually served as rehab to keep his fingers moving.
Tim Bontemps: In other injury news, Stevens says Gordon Hayward’s recovery from surgery to repair a broken bone in his hand is “on pace.” Adds that rookie Tremont Waters, who was called up from the G-League today and is on a two-way, will be active if Walker doesn’t play against Sacramento.
Tom Westerholm: Brad Stevens says Gordon Hayward started shooting again this week. He doesn’t expect Hayward to lose much on that end, which is a positive with his injury.
“It’s a drop in a bucket, for sure,” said Hayward, meeting with reporters before Wednesday’s game against the Washington Wizards. “Like I said, happy that it shouldn’t be that long. Obviously frustrated — it sucks watching and not being able to go out there and play, especially with the start that we’ve had. I think this time around, I’ll be able to run around, use my legs still, maintain my conditioning, which I’m very thrilled about and then be around the team, too. And kinda stay involved, which is good.”
Hayward said surgeons inserted both a pin and a plate at the fracture to both stabilize and expedite the recovery process. He will not travel at the start of Boston’s upcoming five-game trip out west and will have a follow-up with the hand surgeon in New York while waiting for clearance to travel. Hayward appeared in good spirits despite the injury. His splint is already covered in drawings from his two oldest daughters, Charlotte and Bernadette. Despite his advice on color choices, he maintained a “Daddy’s Always Happy” face when detailing what his daughters sketched.
Jay King: Gordon Hayward said once the bone is healed it could become a pain tolerance thing. He thinks it could be helpful that it’s on his left hand.
Jay King: Gordon Hayward: “It’s frustrating, no doubt about it. … But I think with all things considered it’s not that bad and should be healed up pretty nicely pretty soon.”
Gordon Hayward out until Christmas
Chris Forsberg: Six-week timeline puts Gordon Hayward on pace to return right before Christmas. Would miss 19 games if he returned in Toronto.
A. Sherrod Blakely: Brad Stevens said #Celtics Gordon Hayward (left hand fracture) had surgery beginning at 5 pm and the team will have update shortly after it is over.
Jared Weiss: Stevens said Hayward started surgery at five but update won’t come til after game. Brad asked for diagnosis: “It’s a broken hand…It was a metatarsal, I’m sure.”
Adrian Wojnarowski: Boston’s Gordon Hayward will undergo surgery on his fractured left hand today, agent Mark Bartelstein tells ESPN.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Hayward will undergo surgery in New York this afternoon, a timeline on his return will come after the procedure, Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tells ESPN.
Jay King: Brad Stevens said Gordon Hayward is at the doctor’s right now. If surgery is deemed the right option, it would probably be ASAP.
If it is a simple metacarpal fracture, what’s the best-case scenario for something like that generally? Dr, Flynn: With surgery, four weeks is feasible. Surgery can speed things up but the hand surgeon needs to decide if it would be necessary.
What’s the worst-case scenario for Hayward with this type of injury? For instance, Steph Curry is out at least three months after suffering his broken hand and having surgery? Why was that worse? Dr. Flynn: Curry had a second metacarpal fracture that was likely much more complex and possibly involved the joint.
Mark Murphy: Marcus Smart on losing Gordon Hayward: “We love seeing Gordon the way he’s been playing. We love seeing that Gordon. We just all feel so bad for him because he worked so hard to come back from one injury, with all the things he’s been doing, and now this happens.”
Chris Forsberg: Brad Stevens on Gordon Hayward to reporters in San Antonio: “Broken hand. No timeline. He’s going to meet with the doctors tomorrow and decide if he needs to do surgery or not. Sounds like, should he decide that, the surgery option might actually be a better timeline.”
Gordon Hayward suffers injury
Gary Washburn: Hayward headed right to the locker room after taking that Aldridge pick, favoring his right hand. #Celtics #Spurs
Jay King: Gordon Hayward got hit in the elbow during the first half. Brad Stevens said it doesn’t seem like anything big. They thought it was just a bruise on first examination.
Tim Bontemps: Celtics say Aron Baynes and Gordon Hayward are both questionable for tonight’s game against the Spurs, while Jayson Tatum is doubtful after taking a hard fall late in last night’s loss in Charlotte and Al Horford remains out to rest his knee.
Jared Weiss: Horford will rest against Charlotte while Hayward remains out due to his concussion per the team. Baynes remains out, but all 3 could be back Sunday vs. SA.
Steve Bulpett: Stevens on Hayward (concussion protocol): “I don’t know if he’s officially been ruled out (Saturday v Charlotte), but it’s likely that he’s out. He felt a lot better the last couple of days, has gone through every progression OK, so we’ll see if he’s available Sunday.”
John Karalis: Brad Stevens says Gordon Hayward has progressed well and might be available tomorrow. Aron Baynes had an MRI that was very encouraging and he might not be out as long as originally feared
Gary Washburn: No Gordon Hayward at #Celtics practice in Charlotte. RJ Hunter and PJ Dozier are here.
Jay King: Brad Stevens doesn’t know what concussion protocol means for Gordon Hayward’s status the rest of the week. Guessed he will be doubtful for Wednesday’s game against the 76ers, could join the Celtics in time for Saturday’s meeting with Charlotte. But certainly nothing set in stone.
Chris Grenham: Gordon Hayward is officially out tonight due to the concussion protocol. Robert Williams is sick and also out, while Al Horford is available, per the team.
Jared Weiss: Brad Stevens sent Gordon Hayward home at halftime after straining his neck and being woozy after the hit to John Collins’ shoulder.
Chris Forsberg: Celtics say Gordon Hayward has a strained neck and is out for the rest of the game.
Jay King: Gordon Hayward’s available tonight.
Chris Forsberg: Celtics upgrade Gordon Hayward to probable for Saturday’s game vs Bulls.
Ben Rohrbach: Danny Ainge on @985TheSportsHub says Gordon Hayward rolled his ankle playing one on one with Semi Ojeleye. He’s questionable for tonight‘s game.
Jay King: Brad Stevens said Aron Baynes will not play on this trip. Gordon Hayward is day to day, did not practice, listed as questionable for tomorrow. He twisted his ankle playing 1-on-1 against Ojeleye over the break.
Hayward has in fact been playing for the Celtics all season. But there’s a difference between being back and being back. And that difference, more than anything else, explains why the Celtics enter Saturday’s game mired in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, having so far failed to live up to their lofty preseason expectations. “I think with each month I feel more comfortable,” Hayward told ESPN last week. “Sometimes, I need to remind myself it’s good to even be out there, and to try to find the joy in just playing, [and] not get frustrated if things aren’t going exactly how I want them to.”
Scott Souza: #Celtics coach Brad Stevens confirms both Jaylen Brown & Gordon Hayward (both sick) are back tonight. Aron Baynes starts for Al Horford (knee). Brown & Hayward remain off bench.
Abby Chin: Gordon Hayward officially not sick any more and will play tonight according to his Insta. #Celtics pic.twitter.com/YOl8bruQ9n
Tom Westerholm: The Celtics’ injury report for Washington includes Baynes and Horford (both questionable) and Hayward (doubtful with his illness). No Kyrie, however, which is a good sign.
Tom Westerholm: No Al Horford and no Gordon Hayward tonight, per the Celtics.
Chris Forsberg: Celtics list Jaylen Brown (Right Low Back Bruise) as doubtful vs New Orleans. Terry Rozier (Left Knee Soreness) is probable. Gordon Hayward off the injury list and should be back after sitting out the second night of a back to back.
Tim Bontemps: Stevens downplayed any long-term issues with Hayward’s ankle. Hayward is currently in the hallway outside Boston’s locker room doing some exercises. Appears to be a maintenance situation.
Tom Westerholm: Lengthy injury list for the Celtics tonight, which includes Gordon Hayward (out with ankle soreness) and Terry Rozier (questionable with knee soreness). Looks like Al Horford is good to go.
Scott Souza: #Celtics Brad Stevens: Gordon Hayward will play tonight, still on minute restriction. Hayward will start.
Chris Forsberg: Brad Stevens says it’s just general soreness for Gordon Hayward. Aron Baynes starts.
Hayward still believes he can lift his game to a new level. He still aims to deliver titles and maximize his individual potential, but when he speaks about what he ultimately wants to accomplish, he lists skills rather than accolades. He wants to sharpen his decision-making in pick-and-rolls and dribble handoffs. He believes he can see the floor better, inflict more punishment on smaller defenders, and take advantage of all the space the Celtics’ style should afford. Hayward wants to avoid focusing on All-Star berths. This season, after all the anguish, and monotonous rehab, Hayward’s priority is to stay on the court. “Get through this year healthy,” he said of his priorities during a phone interview this week.
“Play in each and every game like it could be my last game. I think with the injury it’s kind of given me some perspective. So I do think that I can still be a better player (than I was), and I do still think that there’s so much more that I can get out of myself.
Gordon Hayward says he is managing back soreness that was getting “progressively worse” as the Boston Celtics forward prepared for the regular-season opener next week. Hayward, who did not play in Saturday’s preseason finale against the Cleveland Cavaliers, told reporters Wednesday that his back has bothered him in the past but that he would typically recover quickly. This time, the soreness lingered, Hayward said.
“That’s what made me feel like I needed to dial it back a little bit,” Hayward said. “In the past, it’s bothered me but always calmed down and was fine with treatments and stuff. But this time it was getting worse, especially after playing.”
Hayward had just started to run full speed and play one-on-one in late May, when doctors concluded it was best to remove the plate and screws. Hayward had been feeling pain around his ankle for months. He agitated for the surgery earlier, fearing an operation in May or June would sabotage his summer. “Hindsight is 20/20,” he says, “but I wish we had knocked this out in March.” Doctors and Celtics officials cautioned that no one should undergo a second operation if they don’t absolutely have to, Hayward recalls. They needed to determine if something other than the plate — some issue that would go away — was causing the irritation. That process took time. “I was miserable,” Hayward says. “To go back into a walking boot after all that progress — back on crutches. That was my lowest moment.”
People close to him have long known to expect calls from a despondent Hayward after so-so games. Hayward has trouble sleeping on those nights, he says. Friends hoped the year away would change that. He would miss the game, rediscover the joy of it, fixate less on mistakes. Perhaps the Celtics’ success without him would ease Hayward’s self-imposed pressure upon his return.
Brian Robb: Gordon Hayward did not practice with lower back issue. Will not travel to Cleveland. Minor issue according to Stevens.
A. Sherrod Blakely: Irving, Hayward, Brown, Tatum and Horford will start for the #Celtics tonight.
Gordon Hayward: Been waiting a long time to lace back up and get out there with the guys. Tonight, finally! #CUsRise
Scott Souza: #Celtics Brad Stevens on Gordon Hayward: He looks fine. I am sure there will be moments when he’ll be sore. There will be moments when he’s trying to regain his rhythm and playing. But just from the naked eye watching, untrained medical eye of mine, he looks like himself.
Scott Souza: #Celtics Gordon Hayward said he plans to play in preseason opener.
Jay King: Gordon Hayward said he felt “really good” back out on the court. His body held up through the first set of two-a-days.
Gordon Hayward: I can say proudly that I haven’t missed a single day of rehab since I got hurt. From the little things back when the injury first occurred, through the setback with having a second surgery to have my hardware removed this spring, right down to every three-on-three and five-on-five over the past several weeks, I’ve shown up and put in the work to get back to this point. I’m extremely proud of that.
Gordon Hayward: Physically, from what I am told, the last thing to come is that explosion off my left foot. Being able to push off that left when I’m going right, when I’m going to the rim off of one foot, being able to just confidently jump off of it and finish at the rim, whether that’s a dunk, or a layup, or whatever—that is the last piece. I feel like I can do that off my right, but not necessarily off my left yet. That will come with time and repetition, just like everything else.
Brian Robb: Gordon Hayward says he has not watched the video of his injury and won’t do so in the future: “I haven’t watched it…I don’t plan on watching the video. I’m moving forward and past it.”
Scott Souza: #Celtics Gordon Hayward: I’m basically 100 percent … for the most part I feel pretty good.
Jay King: Gordon Hayward said he’s feeling really good and has been playing 5-on-5 for a couple of weeks. “It’s so much fun to be able to play again.”
Scott Souza: #Celtics Gordon Hayward said he’s looking forward to playing in preseason games & intends to be on floor in season opener at TD Garden.
Adam Kauffman: The #Celtics announced Gordon Hayward will meet with the media tomorrow at 1:30. Time for a health update. The expectation: He’s ready to go.
Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving and small forward Gordon Hayward “look impressive” in the pickup games they have played at the practice facility in advance of training camp, a league source told Amico Hoops on Friday. Irving underwent season-ending knee surgery in April, while Hayward suffered a fractured left ankle in the Celtics’ season-opening loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Oct. 17, 2017. Both players have been taking part in full speed training for almost a month. Hayward is expected to be cleared for five-on-five play next week, sources said.
A. Sherrod Blakely: The #Celtics Daniel Theis said Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward both “look good” in games played at the team’s practice facility recently.
December 7, 2019 | 2:37 am UTC Update
Kerry Eggers: Terry Stotts on the play of @LeBron James so far this season: “Better than he was last year. He’s playing at a very high level. His assists speak for themselves. He’s doing a lot other than scoring. His playmaking and how he’s leading the team is the most impressive thing” #RipCity
Josh Robbins: Final: Magic 93, Cavaliers 87. Ross: 21 pts., 3 rebs., 1 asst. Isaac: 9 pts., 6 rebs., 4 blocks. Sexton: 19 pts., 3 rebs., 1 asst. Records: Magic (11-11), Cavs (5-16).
Chris Fedor: #Cavs Tristan Thompson is ANGRY that he just came out of the game. Just held his arms out and shouted at the bench. Demonstrably.
Rod Beard: FINAL: #Pistons 108, #Pacers 101 Rose was the catalyst in the final minute-plus. Drummond: 25 pts, 22 rebs, 3 stls 2 blks Griffin: 25 pts, 5 assts Rose: 14 pts, 6 rebs, 5 assts. DET wins season series, 3-1.
Dave McMenamin: Avery Bradley will have the hairline fracture in his right leg re-evaluated Saturday when the Lakers return to Los Angeles. Bradley told ESPN that if he’s cleared, he plans to return to the lineup by Dec. 13 at Miami.
Greg Logan: Final: #Nets 111, #Hornets 104. Key was second unit that held Hornets scoreless in 4Q until only 6:31 remained. Joe Harris 22, DeAndre Jordan 16-11, Jarrett Allen 14-10 and Spencer Dinwiddie 13 points and 12 of Nets’ 35 assists.
Candace Buckner: Before the game, #Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra recalled watching Rui Hachimura in a predraft work out in LA “He had everybody Oooing and Awwing at this athleticism,” Spoelstra said. Rui’s still got em flummoxed tonight.
December 7, 2019 | 1:04 am UTC Update
Cavs to consider offers for Kevin Love
Alex Kennedy: The Cleveland Cavaliers are ready to listen to trade offers for Kevin Love, according to @Adrian Wojnarowski. The Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers have shown interest in Love in the past, as Woj noted, so perhaps they could be possible landing spots for him now.
Dane Moore: Andrew Wiggins is out tonight for the Wolves. Opportunity for Jarrett Culver to spread his wings a little bit.
Christopher Hine: Wiggins said he injured the thumb on a drive in Dallas getting tangled up with Dwight Powell.
Candace Buckner: With Isaiah Thomas missing this back-to-back with left calf strain asked Scott Brooks if this is more serious than it seems “It might be some games it might be some time but I don’t think it’s serious. He wants to play but he always wants to play. He wants to play every minute.”
Ira Winderman: Justise Winslow is out tonight, due to lower-back pain. Should open additional time for Derrick Jones Jr. (or James Johnson?).
Jason Jones: Cory Joseph (back) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (knee) are both available tonight. Joseph will start.
Anthony Puccio: Kenny Atkinson on the David Fizdale firing: “It doesn’t make you feel good as a colleague, and a friend quite honestly. I know it’s part of this business… But he’s an excellent coach. He’ll be back for sure.”
December 7, 2019 | 12:20 am UTC Update
Becky Hammon interested in coaching Knicks?
San Antonio Spurs assistant head coach Becky Hammon is also an interesting name, and according to a league source, the former New York Liberty guard would have interest in coaching the Knicks if she could land a long-term deal, with the belief a four- or five-year deal would be sufficient.
Tom Orsborn: Lonnie said Tuesday that Pop wants him to be a “defensive stopper.” Pop touched on that today: “He is an exceptional athlete… He’s learning how to use that speed & quickness defensively to give people trouble and hopefully he will get better and better at that.” #Spurs
Matt Velazquez: Doc Rivers when asked if the Bucks are the best team in the East right now: “Yeah (laughs) I think so. Yeah. Is there a debate that I didn’t know about?”
Jovan Buha: JaMychal Green is out tonight, per Doc Rivers.
Cavaliers coach John Beilein defended his methods and said he’s drastically changed his style from college, responding to a critical story posted by The Athletic Friday afternoon. “I have made huge changes in everything,” Beilein said before the Cavs faced the Orlando Magic at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. “I would say 85 percent of our language is NBA language. Our typical practice (at Michigan) the day before a game would be two hours and 10 minutes, now it might be 60 or 70 minutes.”
John Beilein: “We were the worst defensive team in the NBA last year. What do we do, practice less? We have to do that and we’ve got to continue to work at it. I have a lot of confidence the guys in the locker room are on board, and they’ve told me that. So we’ve just got to keep pushing through.”
Cavs forward Larry Nance Jr. said if some players have issues with Beilein, “Ideally you want to keep that in house.” “I guess that’s today’s NBA,” Nance said. “Am I worried about it? No. My job doesn’t change. I’m going to play as hard as I can for as long as I can and try to get us to win.”
December 7, 2019 | 12:08 am UTC Update
Anthony Slater: Steve Kerr on David Fizdale’s firing and the occasional what if, on days like today, as in: What if he took the Knicks job instead of the Warriors one? “That would’ve been me three years ago.”
Sean Grande: Brad Stevens texted with David Fizdale this afternoon. “I just wanted to make sure he knows how much I think of him. Everybody knows he’s a good coach And the situation is the situation.”
Michael Singer: Michael Malone on Nikola Jokic: “I think he’s going through a tough stretch, I really do. And this is the first time where I’ve seen him go through this.” Jokic has scored in single digits in four of #Nuggets last five games.
Andy Larsen: Mike Conley is listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game against Memphis. Ja Morant is still out.
Keith Langlois: Markieff Morris OUT with “bilateral cervical spine strain,” which sounds painful. He had a neck injury last season. No idea if it’s related. He got hit in the neck on Tuesday at CLE but played Wednesday.
Tom Orsborn: Aldridge is back in the starting lineup, per Pop. #Spurs
Tom Orsborn: Pop reacts to Rockets protest: “There are calls missed for both teams all through every game. And players miss shots & coaches make bad decisions & you move on. There’s never 1 play you can single out & say, ‘That’s the most important thing in the game & that’s why won or lost.’
December 6, 2019 | 11:26 pm UTC Update
Chris Iseman: Statement from the Knicks: “Today, head coach David Fizdale and assistant coach Keith Smart were relieved of their coaching duties. Assistant coach Mike Miller has been named interim head coach.”
Tim Reynolds: Spo on Fiz: “It’s disappointing. I’m bummed about it.”
Tim Reynolds: Spo on the new baby: “My wife and I are thrilled. Everybody’s healthy. Everybody’s home. … It’s been a crazy 48 hours, to say the least. But we’re all home and the house is a little bit louder than it was before.”
Roy Parry: During the team’s shootaround this morning, Steve Clifford said Mo Bamba remains the only player still on any type of minutes restriction: “Mo’s a little bit but not significant. He’d be it.” When asked, Clifford confirmed a restriction is no longer in place for Markelle Fultz.
Josh Robbins: Asked about his recovery from a right-ankle sprain, Nikola Vucevic said he has started to do some limited running on the court. Vucevic suffered the injury on Nov. 20. Tonight’s game in Cleveland will be the eighth consecutive game he has missed due to the injury.
Jay King: Brad Stevens said Gordon Hayward will likely return to practice Sunday.
Sean Grande: Marcus Smart will play and start tonight.
December 6, 2019 | 11:01 pm UTC Update
Royce Young: Deonte Burton has been suspended one game by the Thunder for conduct detrimental to the team (he’ll serve it tonight against the Wolves). According to league sources, Burton was involved in a locker room altercation following the game against the Pacers on Wednesday.
Christian Clark: Derrick Favors will not play tomorrow. Pelicans trying to snap a seven-game losing streak in Dallas.
Josh Robbins: Michael Carter-Williams (nasal contusion) will be available to play tonight against the Cavs, Steve Clifford said.
Ira Winderman: Dion Waiters (illness) is out for tonight. Reported illness to team on Thursday night, with his daughter also dealing with the flu. He has yet to play this season.
December 6, 2019 | 10:35 pm UTC Update
Mike Miller named Knicks' interim head coach
Shams Charania: The Knicks are naming assistant Mike Miller as the interim head coach, per league sources.
Robinson’s path to this point falls somewhere between unlikely and unfathomable, as he ultimately progressed from Division III Williams College to receiving advice from Dwyane Wade about adjusting to the NBA. “I mean, you never want to limit yourself or what you’re capable of,” Robinson said. “I certainly didn’t expect or anticipate it necessarily, but I just try to put in the work every single day.”
When he was called up, he soaked up guidance from veterans like Wade, Udonis Haslem and Kelly Olynyk. And last April, Robinson signed a two-year, $3.1 million deal with the Heat. “The situation can be everything, and I feel really good about this organization,” Robinson said. “They’ve been great with me, the support they’ve given me. Front office, coaching staff, it’s special. I felt like I was capable at this level. I’ve always believed that. But sometimes it just takes more of an extended opportunity.”
Stephen Curry undergoes second surgery
Shams Charania: Warriors’ Stephen Curry has undergone a second surgery on his broken left hand to remove pins from first procedure, league sources tell @The Athletic @Stadium. Curry is still on track to be re-evaluated in February.
Derek Bodner: No Joel Embiid (left hip contusion) tomorrow against Cleveland. The injury occurred in last night’s loss to the Wizards. Josh Richardson (right hamstring tightness) is also out. This will be the 5th straight game Richardson has missed with the injury.
Marla Ridenour: No Kevin Love tonight for #Cavs. Not even at arena. Been sick for 2 days
