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Hornets beat Celtics to spoil Hayward’s return
LOS ANGELES, Sept 29, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Boston Celtics Gordon Hayward says
just getting back on the court Friday felt like a victory after scoring 10
points in his first NBA game in almost a year.
“Been waiting a long time to lace back up and get out there with the guys,”
said Hayward, who suffered a scary leg injury in the Celtics’ season opener
last October 17.
“I don’t think I was playing my best basketball. But I was having fun out
there.”
Despite Hayward’s return, the Celtics dropped their NBA pre-season opener
to the Charlotte Hornets 104-97 on Friday at the Dean E. Smith Center arena
in Chappel Hill, North Carolina.
Hayward finished with 10 points in his first game since that serious injury
in Cleveland in which he broke his fibula and dislocated his ankle.
Hayward started at forward for the Celtics alongside Jaylen Brown, Jayson
Tatum, Al Horford and Kyrie Irving.
“I missed him,” said Irving of Hayward, who wasted no time scoring his
first points in front of a crowd of 18,000. Hayward delivered an easy basket
early in the first quarter after grabbing an offensive rebound. He finished
two-of-seven from the field in just over 20 minutes of playing time.
Irving, who suffered a 2017-18 season-ending injury on March 11 when he
hurt his knee, also made his return. Irving finished with just nine points.
“I thought there were a lot of great talking and teaching points in this
game,” said Boston coach Brad Stevens. “It’s a reminder of how hard it is to
win in this league.”
Jeremy Lamb scored 15 points for Charlotte, which finished with seven
players in double figures.
France’s Tony Parker made his debut with Charlotte, after 17 seasons with
the San Antonio Spurs.
Parker missed all three shots he attempted and went scoreless on the night.
Cody Zeller scored 13 points and Kemba Walker made 12 for the Hornets.
Brown hit for 14 points and Marcus Morris had 12 for Boston.
Boston led by as many as 20 points in the first half but finished a dismal
nine of 47 from three-point range overall.
Charlotte used a huge third-quarter run to enter the fourth trailing 84-81.
Boston got back up by four with six minutes remaining in the game, but the
Hornets closed it out on a 17-6 run, which was highlighted by a pair of
dynamic dunks from rookie Miles Bridges.
“I’m just proud of the guys, proud of how they stuck in the game,” said
Hornets new head coach James Borrego.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1040 hrs