Despite loss, Gordon Hayward's return ‘definitely a win' for the Celtics

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CHAPEL HILL – About three minutes had passed before Gordon Hayward touched the ball for the first time.

It didn’t take him long, maybe two seconds, before he launched a jumper that was off the mark.

Moments later, Hayward came up with a blocked shot which led to a put-back basket.

What Hayward was doing, were the things that on their own merit do little to move the interest needle or elicit anything other than a yawn, if that.

But for Hayward, they were some of the most important moves of his career.

And by all accounts, Hayward’s return to the floor was indeed a success.

Hayward, playing for the first time in an NBA game since he suffered a season-ending ankle injury on October 17 of last year, finished with nine points, three rebounds and an assist.

This game wasn’t about dropping 20 points or dominating the action.

For Hayward, it was about making one step closer towards returning to the form he displayed prior to last season.

“We have a lot of work to do,” Hayward said. “That was obvious. I individually have a lot of work to do. For me personally, it was good to get this one out of the way for sure.”

It was good for his teammates as well, who were anxious – just like Hayward – for his return to action.

“I’m happy to be out there with him and competing at a high level and continue to build that chemistry and continuity,” said Irving who added, “I been waiting for him to play just like everyone else. I missed him; I miss you G, I miss you. Now our first game is out of the way and now we can just continue to focus on getting better.”

Hayward acknowledged his timing wasn’t quite where he wanted it to be, which is no surprise considering he had not played against NBA-caliber competition in a game in nearly a year.

 “We got a long season. We’re going to need him,” said Boston’s Jaylen Brown. “He’s going to pick it up; he’s going to get it rolling.”

And Brown, who led the Celtics with 14 points, said he and his teammates have to be better at making that happen.

“We have to do a better job of helping him find easy ones, get some easy ones,” Brown said. “We can all make tough ones; finding easy ones for each other is going to be the key.”

Hayward and I had a conversation prior to the game about what would be a best-case scenario for him to take away from Friday’s game.

“For me, it’s just not getting injured,” Hayward told me before knocking on the wooden panels inside his locker stall a couple times. “Coming back and just feeling healthy out there, like I’m moving well, feel like I made some plays. Just getting through the first game feeling confident in my leg.”

All indications are that Hayward made it through the game health-wise, in pretty good shape.

And while the outcome certainly wasn’t what Hayward or the Celtics would have wanted, he does take solace in the fact that his primary goal – to make it through the game without injury – was accomplished.

“I been through a lot this last year,” Hayward said. “Just to be out there, in front of the fans and playing with my teammates … there were moments last year when I didn’t know if I would be able to do that, so that (Friday’s game) was definitely a win.”

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