Hayward’s return gives Celtics lift against Heat
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Gordon Hayward has been part of Boston Celtics teams that have made the Eastern Conference finals twice in the past three seasons.
He’s finally gotten to play in one of those games.
Hayward returned to the Celtics’ rotation in Game 3 of their East title series against the Miami Heat on Saturday night after missing a month while recovering from a right ankle sprain. It was his first time in an East finals game; he was inactive for all seven Boston games in the 2018 series and the first two this year, both times because of injuries.
Hayward had six points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals in 31 minutes, and Boston won 117-106, cutting Miami’s lead in the best-of-seven series to 2-1.
“It was really fun to be back out there with the team, with the guys,” Hayward said. “I just tried to impact our team in winning ways, whatever I could do.”
Hayward checked in with 5:06 left in the opening quarter. His minutes were monitored by team officials.
“He can score the ball, he can switch all the different positions, he gives us a lot of defensive flexibility there — he just gives us a lot,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. “And I think that he’s always been a guy that provides a great sense of stability.”
Hayward played 34 minutes in Game 1 of Boston’s first-round series against Philadelphia before suffering the ankle injury. He sat out the next 4½ weeks.
“We don’t expect him to be a worldbeater, but I think his presence helps us,” Stevens said.
Hayward had a strong season for the Celtics, averaging 17.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists on exactly 50% shooting. He was only the second Boston player in history to have those numbers, or better, over a full season; Larry Bird is the other, and he did it five times.
Game 4 isn’t until Wednesday, so Hayward gets plenty of recovery time.
“I’m extremely tired right now,” Hayward said postgame. “My ankle’s pretty sore.”