Those of us teased into optimism about Gordon Hayward’s status for tonight’s game against the Detroit Pistons being upgraded to ‘questionable’ yesterday are in for a letdown, but it’s not all bad news.
Head coach Brad Stevens revealed the Butler product had a clean MRI scan returned, meaning whatever ails the Indiana native is, at least, not structural, reports MassLive’s John Karalis.
The irritation is still enough to keep him out of tonight’s tilt, though.
Hayward, who has been putting up 17.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists this season, has been dealing with the discomfort since before breaking his hand in early November and sat for Thursday’s win over the Dallas Mavericks.
Gordon Hayward is out tonight. MRI reveals nothing structural.
— John Karalis 🇬🇷 (@RedsArmy_John) December 20, 2019
The Pistons will be resting several of their own players to various injuries, including All-Star forward Blake Griffin (knee), point guard Reggie Jackson (back), big man Christian Wood (knee) and third-year guard Luke Kennard (also knee).
Boston will also be without Marcus Smart (eye infection), Robert Williams III (bone edema), and Vincent Poirier (broken finger) for the meeting, with Smart likely to return against the Toronto Raptors on Christmas Day, and the latter pair until mid-to late January at soonest.
The Pistons are not the only team dealing with multiple injuries on Boston’s schedule, as Toronto is down three of their best players in Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol and Norm Powell.
That team will play the Celtics twice before year’s end, and along with the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks, are one of only three teams Boston will face with a winning record before a Jan. 20 showdown with longtime rival Los Angeles Lakers.