After strong start, Gordon Hayward leaves game with possible elbow bruise

Gordon Hayward looked fast and confident. He was taking it to the rack and hitting threes. This was the start he was looking for in the preseason. However, what looks to be a minor bump cut his night short.

Brad Stevens said after the game that Hayward got hit in the first half, but it didn’t feel right coming out of halftime and that it’s not “anything big.” Hayward said it got sore, but downplayed any concern. He’ll get it checked tomorrow morning and should be fine in a few days.

It’s possible that Hayward bruised his elbow on this drive at the end of the second quarter:

He breaks his fall with his left arm after aggressively taking it to the rim. Hayward left the game with five minutes left in the third quarter and most likely around the time he would have called it a night anyway. He finished with nine points, three assists, and three rebounds in just over twenty-two minutes. The Celtics won’t play again until Friday night in Orlando.