Boston Celtics fans will have to move forward without a key piece of their roster. Celtics forward Gordon Hayward will miss at least four weeks after suffering a Grade 3 right ankle sprain during Monday’s Game 1 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Gordon Hayward to Miss 4 Weeks with Ankle Sprain
Gordon Hayward Goes Down with Ankle Injury
With around just over three minutes remaining in the game, Hayward was trying to box out 76ers’ All-Star Joel Embiid when he twisted his right foot. He then landed on teammate Daniel Theis‘ foot and fell to the floor.
Boston committed a take foul, then called a timeout with 3:08 remaining. This allowed Hayward to limp along the sideline and to the locker room. According to ESPN’s Malika Andrews, Hayward walked out of the arena in crutches.
The veteran forward finished the game with 12 points on 5-for-13 shooting with 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and four steals in 34 minutes.
What’s Next for the Boston Celtics
A silver lining is that it is not as devastating as the gruesome leg and ankle injury he suffered in 2017 during his first minutes as a Celtic.
However, Hayward’s absence forces Boston to focus more on small ball, with Marcus Smart replacing his spot in the lineup. This leaves Grant Williams, Enes Kanter, and Brad Wanamaker as the bench’s top options.
It is unclear when Hayward would return even after his recovery. Earlier this year, he announced that he will leave the bubble if his fourth child is born during the postseason. The Eastern Conference Semifinals are scheduled during the first two weeks of September, when his wife, Robyn, is due.
Hayward was having a strong season producing “Utah Jazz type” numbers, averaging 17.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 38 percent from behind the arc.
Game 2 of the Celtics vs 76ers series is scheduled for Thursday at 6:30 PM ET.
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