Gordon Hayward has put himself in the All-Star conversation with his play in Charlotte so far this season, but unfortunately he still can't escape his injury woes.
The former Celtic, who signed with the Hornets as a free agent this past offseason, suffered his latest setback Monday night against the Jazz. Early in the fourth quarter, Hayward got tripped up while driving to the basket and re-injured his right hand while breaking his fall.
Hayward went back to the training room after a brief examination and did not return to the game. The Hornets said he aggravated a prior hand injury.
“Obviously, we are all concerned,” Hornets coach James Borrego told reporters after the game, as relayed by Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer.
Hayward previously fractured his right pinkie finger during a preseason game, so it would seem that's the injury he re-aggravated. He's also missed a game this season due to a hip injury and another with a sore back.
Hayward has been Charlotte's leading scorer this season, averaging 21.9 points per game to match his career-best mark he set in Utah in 2016-17. He has helped put the Hornets in position to battle for a playoff spot, as they are currently tied for eighth in the Eastern Conference.