Gordon Hayward’s Game 3 stat line doesn’t jump off the box score. He finished with six points, five rebounds, four assists, and made only two of his seven shots. However, the big number was Hayward’s 30 minutes. After missing basically the entire playoffs due to a Grade 3 ankle sprain suffered in Game 1 against the 76ers, Hayward was thrown back in the post-season fire and by all accounts, handled the Heat.
“It felt weird out there. It’s been four or five weeks since I’ve played basketball, so I think it was really fun to be back out there with the team, with the guys,” Hayward said.