The young Charlotte Hornets will be absent their most playoff-proven veteran during their first dip into postseason basketball.
Three days before Charlotte is set to take part in the play-in tournament, the team announced that Gordon Hayward is sidelined indefinitely with “continued soreness” in his left foot and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
The Charlotte Hornets announced today that forward Gordon Hayward will be out indefinitely with continued discomfort in his left foot. Hayward’s foot will be placed in a cast to immobilize his foot and he will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks.
Hayward returned to the lineup on April 2nd after missing the previous seven weeks of with soreness in his left foot. He struggled in Charlotte's blowout loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, though, admitting after the game that he was still getting comfortable back on the floor.
“I’m just trying to find myself out there,” Hayward said. “It’s a little difficult and I have the minutes restriction, too. Rotations are also different.”
The Hornets announced shortly thereafter that he'd miss the next four games with ongoing pain in his foot.
Hayward finishes the regular season averaging 15.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, his lowest numbers since an injury-plagued 2018-19 season with the Boston Celtics. Expect P.J. Washington to continue starting in his stead, with Miles Bridges sliding up to small forward.
Charlotte enters its regular season finale on Sunday at 42-39, tied with the Atlanta Hawks for ninth in the Eastern Conference. The play-in tournament tips off on Tuesday.
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