Gordon Hayward expected to make season debut Sunday for Jazz

By
TIM MACMAHON via <a href="http://espn.go.com/" title="ESPN" class="espn_sc_byline">ESPN </a>
via
November 5, 2016, 6:50 PM ET
2 min read

— -- Utah Jazz star Gordon Hayward is expected to make his season debut in the team's Sunday matinee game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, a league source told ESPN.

Hayward fractured the ring finger on his left hand when it got caught in a teammate's jersey during practice Oct. 7.

The original timetable for Hayward's return was up to six weeks. He pushed to get back in less than a month. Hayward ramped up workouts recently and has been able to smoothly handle the ball with his left hand.

Hayward missed Utah's first six games, with the Jazz going 3-3 without their go-to guy, including a rare road win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Hayward, 26, led the Jazz with 19.7 points and 3.7 assists per game in 2015-16.

The Jazz still aren't at full strength with Hayward's return. Power forward Derrick Favors, another foundation piece, remains on a minutes restriction after recovering from a preseason knee injury.

Key reserve forward/center Boris Diaw is expected to be sidelined two weeks with a leg contusion.