They’re the numbers that prove that the Charlotte Hornets’ massive gamble on Gordon Hayward is seriously starting to pay off.
In his All-Star 2016-17 season with the Utah Jazz, Hayward’s stats line was as follows:
21.9 points, 5.Four rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.3 blocks, 1.0 steal 47.1 % FG, and 39.Eight % 3FG from an average of 34.5 minutes.
Now, with extra responsibility as a franchise signing at the Hornets, he seems destined to finally put his history of injuries behind him in a big way.
Carrying the team on his back, Hayward’s stats line before Tuesday’s [AEDT] game with the New York Knicks was very near that of his All-Star campaign at Utah.
21.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 0.3 blocks, 1.5 steals, 48.8 % FG, and 38.2 % 3FG from an average of 34.8 minutes on the floor.
After just one half against the Knicks, Hayward had a whopping 28 points after shooting 8-of-12 from the field, 2-of-2 from beyond the arc, and 10-of-10 from the free-throw line.
The Hornets finished comfortable 109-88 winners.
Two of the points came off a full-court pass from LaMelo Ball in one of the highlights of the night time, further proving the latter’s incredible vision.
Ball finished the game with eight points, 14 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals in another stable showing to build on his historic sport against the Hawks
It was a career-best scoring half for Hayward and just one other sign of how dangerous he could be if healthy.
Hayward signed one of many larger contracts of the free agency period, linking with the Hornets on a $A164m deal that shaped a serious balancing act of threat versus reward.
The previous Celtics and Jazz star had missed 111 of 236 games in his career earlier than heading to Charlotte and there have been doubts as to whether he could rediscover his All-Star form.
It was a case of ‘what could have been’ for the Knicks, who may have had Hayward on their side dominating the offensive end of the floor.
New York had plenty of money to splash within the free agency period but opted against going after a big name, instead of signing veterans like Austin Rivers and Alec Burks on short-term deals while keeping the cap area for future moves.
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau did admit that “we had him [Hayward] rated fairly high on our board,” prior to the Hornets clash.
What specifically was it that drew him and the franchise towards Hayward?
Gordan Hayward has 28 points…. at halftime. In Boston -even when he was healthy- he NEVER looked like a guy with the confidence to put up 28 in a half. Glad he's found his groove. He deserves it. pic.twitter.com/V4yvSCDEfK
— David Wade (@davidwade) January 12, 2021
“His playmaking ability is really what stood out to me,” he added.
“There are lots of guys who get factors, but they’re not excessive help guys. He’s always been a high-assist man. He jogged my memory of Jimmy Butler in that means in terms of his decision-making and talent to make other people higher. And that goes a good distance.”
There is still loads of time for Hayward to proceed to show himself as the Hornets eye a possible return to the playoffs.
The indicators are there although that Thibodeau’s assessment was bang on – Hayward himself isn’t just thriving, he’s bringing the perfect out of his teammates too.
DEPLETED SIXERS’ STELLAR START CONTINUES TO UNRAVEL
The Philadelphia 76ers’ ache has continued with Doc Rivers’ males going down 112-94 to the Atlanta Hawks.
Joel Embiid was taken off for the Sixers with eight minutes remaining within the third quarter after trying his finest to power the Sixers’ offense.
He had 24 factors, 11 rebounds, and one help by that time with Tyrese Maxey once more stepping up in the absence of a number of stars, including 15 points, six rebounds, 4 assists, and two blocks.
As a complete, although the Sixers simply could not make a bucket.
The 76ers had been taking pictures 22.2 % from past the arc and 40.2 % from the sector whereas Atlanta had 21 quick break factors to Philly’s 2.
It was not a shock that the Sixers had been so dependant on Embiid however with the Miami Warmth slated to face Philly tomorrow, the threat a big drop off after their record begins to the season.
Seth Curry, Tobias Harris, Shake Milton, Ben Simmons, and Matisse Thybulle are amongst these lacking with all however the Simmons sidelined due to coronavirus tracing protocols.
Not that it's a surprise, but the Sixers just haven't been able to score outside of Embiid.
About 0.85 PPP right now and significantly worse than that after the first few minutes.
— Brad Rowland (@BTRowland) January 12, 2021
BUCKS OVERPOWER ORLANDO
Giannis Antetokounmpo shook off foul bother to attain 13 of his 22 points within the second half Monday because the Bucks pulled away for a 121-99 NBA victory over the Magic in Orlando.
Antetokounmpo, the two-time defending NBA Most Useful Participant, confirmed no signal of the again spasms that forced him out of the Bucks win over Cleveland on Saturday, adding six rebounds, 4 assists, and two blocked shots.
Khris Middleton scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Bobby Portis chipped in 20 factors off the bench because the Bucks notched their fifth win in six video games.
Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic led all scorers with 28 points and 13 rebounds, but it surely wasn’t enough within the first assembly between the teams since Milwaukee ousted Orlando within the first spherical of the Jap Conference playoffs in August.
Orlando ahead Aaron Gordon threw down a dunk over Antetokounmpo early within the fourth to tug the Magic inside 88-86.
Antetokounmpo responded with a three-pointer and assisted on Portis’s shot from past the arc as the Bucks rebuilt their lead.
After Gordon’s dunk, the Bucks scored 22 of the next 24 points as they put the game out of reach.
“He’s growing in all ways and it was just two big plays, as a result of the momentum could’ve swung on the dunk,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer mentioned of Antetokounmpo’s late-game effort.
— AFP
NBA SCORES
NEW YORK KNICKS 88 — 109 CHARLOTTE HORNETS
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 101 — 91 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
MILWAUKEE BUCKS 121 — 99 ORLANDO MAGIC
PHOENIX SUNS 107 — 128 WASHINGTON WIZARDS
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 94 — 112 ATLANTA HAWKS
TORONTO RAPTORS 111 — 112 PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS
INDIANA PACERS 122 — 127 SACRAMENTO KINGS
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS — DALLAS MAVERICKS (postponed)
Read also-How Golden State Warriors survived Steph Curry& worst shooting night ever
