Celtics expecting ‘full recovery' for Hayward, but have no timetable

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BOSTON – After going through a series of tests earlier today, the results confirmed what the Celtics’ medical officials had determined earlier which is Hayward has a dislocated left ankle and a fractured tibia.

Gordon Hayward will have surgery on his left ankle tonight, according to a league source.

“We’re expecting this to be a full recovery,” said Celtics head coach Brad Stevens who added, “No timeline on it but a full recovery.”

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Hayward suffered the injury in the first quarter of Boston’s 102-99 loss at Cleveland on Tuesday.

The 6-foot-8 All-Star landed awkwardly on his ankle after a lob pass by Kyrie Irving was deflected by LeBron James.

Players from both teams were visibly affected by the gruesome injury that puts Hayward’s return this season very much up in the air.

“He’s down, obviously,” Stevens said of Hayward. “There’s a physical pain to it, but that’s also doubled by the emotional pain. He put a lot of effort into trying to start this, his career out well in Boston.”

Stevens said Marcus Smart will be inserted into the starting lineup, joining Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Al Horford.

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