Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward returned to the court on Monday after missing a month due to injury, scoring 14 points in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Hayward played for the first time since November 9th in front of an amped-up crowd at the TD Garden in Boston. He featured in coach Brad Stevens’ starting lineup and played 26 minutes.
The Indiana native had missed a month of action after suffering a broken hand in an early-season matchup with the San Antonio Spurs. He underwent surgery to repair his hand and returned earlier than previously expected.
Hayward showed few signs of rust in a solid performance. While not taking a risk by playing too many minutes, he shot 7-10 from the field and contributed 14 points in his team’s 110-88 win.
In addition to his scoring contributions, Hayward collected 5 rebounds and 4 assists, showing his all-around strength and contributions.
The 29-year-old forward admitted that he still has some work to do to get his hand back to 100%, stating, “I have to build up more strength in it. My motion isn’t all the way back. But I didn’t feel like it affected me.”
Hayward’s Celtics moved to 17-5 on the season with their win.
