NBA playoffs: Celtics coach Brad Stevens teases Gordon Hayward return for Bucks clash
BRAD STEVENS has joked that he will have Boston Celtics star Gordon Hayward back in time for their next playoff match.
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The Celtics took a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven first-round playoff match against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Stevens’ men ran out 120-106 winners with Jaylen Brown scoring 30 points, making him the youngest player in Celts history to achieve that in a playoff game.
Terry Rozier chipped in with 21 points and eight assists.
While Marcus Morris came off the bench to score 18 points.
Meanwhile, Hayward, who has been out since October after suffering a horrific ankle injury, is still in rehabilitation.
We’re just trying to get him ready for Friday’s game and we’re hopeful he can play and, whatever
Stevens has been constantly asked about Hayward’s return and he was happy to have a joke at the media’s expense.
“I don’t know the medical diagnosis of what’s next,” Stevens said.
“We’re just trying to get him ready for Friday’s game and we’re hopeful he can play and, whatever.”
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However, he’s unsure when he will be back in the first team, adding: “He worked with some of their trainers when he was doing the pre-draft stuff.
“There’s a lot of familiarity there. It seems like a logical next step for him.”