Celtics' Hayward leaves bubble, plans to rejoin closer to on-court return
Abbie Parr / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Veteran forward Gordon Hayward left the NBA's Disney World campus to return home but plans to rejoin the team once he is closer to returning from his Grade 3 right ankle sprain, the Boston Celtics announced Sunday.
Hayward suffered the injury Monday in Game 1 of the Celtics' first-round series versus the Philadelphia 76ers.
Boston expects the former All-Star to miss four weeks, putting him on track to return during the conference finals should the Celtics advance that far.
The Celtics have an opportunity to become the first team to advance to the second round of the 2020 playoffs. The team boasts a 3-0 series lead over the rival 76ers with Game 4 tipping at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.