CELTICS NOTEBOOK: Gordon Hayward returns after a one-game absence

The Celtics forward rested his ankle on Saturday night, then scored 11 points with three 3-pointers in Monday night's loss to the Orlando Magic.

BOSTON – His minutes are being restricted and there will be days off when the need arises.

Gordon Hayward, coming off a dislocated left ankle and fractured tibia, understands that is the way is has to be as he returns to the Celtics after playing less than six minutes last season.

Hayward played the first two games last week, then rested his ankle on Saturday night when the Celtics defeated the New York Knicks. He returned Monday night and played 25 minutes (his limit) in a 93-90 loss to the Orlando Magic at the TD Garden.

“That was part of the plan for me, I guess,’’ said Hayward of sitting the second of back-to-back games on Saturday. “I trust the staff on bringing me back the right way, so felt good tonight.

“There is soreness in my ankle every time I play right now. There’ll be soreness for a little while. It was something we planned on doing that. That’s why I’m on a minutes restriction as well.

“They don’t want any overloading issues, so there is some load management stuff. I want to play in every single game. I’d like to play every single minute, but my ankle is not there yet.’’

Against the Magic, Hayward was moving without any problems and scored 11 points, hitting three 3-pointers, to go with four rebounds and three assists.

Hayward had a chance to force overtime just before the buzzer when Al Horford grabbed an offensive rebound and fed him, but the 3-point missed after Hayward had made three of his first four attempts.

“It had a chance, for sure. It was a good look,’’ said Hayward. “Kind of like the story of the night. We had a bunch of good looks, just didn’t knock them down.’’

 Baynes sits out: Aron Baynes, who suffered a strained right hamstring in Saturday’s win over the New York Knicks, sat out the game against the Magic.

“He’s feeling a little bit better today, did a little bit of running at 70 percent of his body weight and felt pretty good, which is encouraging coming off of that,’’ said coach Brad Stevens.

“It didn’t feel like it’s a long, long-term thing. Obviously, hamstrings and muscular injuries at this time of year can be really scary and can keep guys out a while, but it doesn’t sound like that’ll be the case.’’

The absence of Baynes meant more playing time for Daniel Theis, who is returning following knee surgery last March. Theis had seven points and six rebounds in 15 minutes while rookie Robert Williams made his NBA debut, playing 3:30 in the second half.

"They were playing double bigs and so that was an opportunity to play double bigs and play Al at (power forward),'' said Stevens. "I thought Robert could give us a little bit of a jolt before we put Theis in the game and I thought he did.''

Birthday for coach: Stevens, who was 36 in the summer when he was hired as the Celtics head coach, celebrated his 42nd birthday on Monday.

Williams drew the assignment of singing “Happy Birthday’’ to Stevens.

“Nice would probably not be the adjective that I would use, but I got serenaded,’’ joked Stevens. “The passion was there. The effort was there.

“Being in basketball for however many years now, you don’t get to celebrate it during the season, so it’s just part of it. But it’s nice to get well wishes.’’