[ad_1]
Injured Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward returned to the NBA bubble near Orlando on Sunday, but his right ankle has yet to recover to the point where he can play.
Coach Brad Stevens said Saturday that Hayward won’t be ready for the competition “soon.”
Hayward, 30, suffered a Grade III sprain to his ankle on August 17 while attempting to defeat Joel Embiid during Boston’s 109-101 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of the first-round series of the Eastern Conference to the best of seven.
After Hayward jumped for the rebound, he appeared to land on the foot of his teammate Daniel Theis. At the time, Hayward was expected to lose about four weeks.
Upon his return to Orlando, Hayward will be quarantined for four days.
2:40
The Celtics are tied 2-2 with defending NBA champion Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Game 5 takes place Monday night and is live at Sky Sports Arena at 11:30 pm.
If the Celtics advance to the conference finals, Hayward’s availability remains a question mark, both in terms of injury and family issues. His wife, Robyn, will give birth to their fourth child, and Hayward previously said she would be leaving the team to be present at the birth.
The baby was due to be born in September, but neither Haywards nor the team have announced whether the baby, a boy, has been born.
Hayward averaged 17.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists this season for Boston.
Want to see even more of the NBA but don’t have Sky Sports? Get the Sky Sports Action and Arena package, click here.
[ad_2]
