The Jazz will be without one of their best players to start the NBA season after small forward Gordon Hayward suffered a dislocated and broken finger on his left hand, the Deseret News reported Friday.
Hayward will be re-evaluated after three weeks, according to the Desert News, but he's likely to miss at least six weeks of action. It is not yet clear how or when the 6-8 Hayward was injured.
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The Butler product has developed into one of the most versatile wing scorers in the NBA. He averaged 19.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game last season.
Should Hayward be forced to sit a full six weeks, he will miss the first 13 games of Utah's regular season. He has only missed 33 games in his six-year career.
The Jazz open their regular season with a difficult schedule, including two games against the Spurs and a trip to Portland to face the Trail Blazers.
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Though Hayward has never made an All-Star roster, he has averaged double-digit points in five of his six seasons. He has shot 36 percent from 3-point range in his career, and he has averaged at least 14 points, three rebounds and three assists per game in each of his past four seasons.
With Hayward out, Trey Lyles could see more playing time at small forward. Shooting guard Alec Burks could also be an option, though he is returning from knee and ankle surgeries.