Gordon Hayward’s bad luck with the injuries seems to have been followed up to Charlotte.
Hayward, who signed a four-year, $ 120 million contract with the Hornets last month after spending the last three seasons with the Boston Celtics, suffered an avulsion fracture of the fifth metacarpal in his right (throwing) hand. in Charlotte’s 112-109 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Monday.
Hayward missed all but the first six minutes of his first season in Boston after suffering horrific foot and ankle injuries in the first game of the 2017-18 season.
After playing 72 games but often struggling in 2018-19, Hayward appeared to be close to what he was last season with the Celtics, averaging 17.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists while shooting 50 % from the field, 38% from 3 points and 85% from the foul line, but only played in 52 of Boston’s 72 games due to a variety of injuries.
He suffered a fracture in his left hand in November 2019, and then will have had nerve problems in his left foot previously injured last December. He then missed 12 of Boston’s 17 postseason games inside the NBA bubble at the Walt Disney World Resort due to a Grade 3 right ankle sprain suffered in Game 1 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. .
Hayward opened Charlotte’s two preseason games against Toronto, averaging 12.5 points. Charlotte opened its regular season on Dec. 23 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.