Charlotte Hornets forward Gordon Hayward will miss this week’s play-in tournament and is out indefinitely because of ongoing discomfort in his left foot.
The Hornets announced Sunday that Hayward, who has appeared in only one game since Feb. 8, will have his foot placed in a cast and will be reevaluated in approximately two weeks.
Hayward initially suffered a sprained ankle on Feb. 7 and missed 22 consecutive games before returning earlier this month for Charlotte’s game on April 2 against Philadelphia. The former All-Star played 17 minutes in that contest against the 76ers, but will miss his fourth straight game Sunday.
The Hornets (42-39) already have clinched a postseason spot and are 10th in the Eastern Conference standings entering Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Washington Wizards.
With a victory Sunday, Charlotte can climb as high as the No. 8 seed, depending on how the Cleveland Cavaliers (43-38) and Atlanta Hawks (42-39) fare in their respective finales.
Hayward, 32, averaged 15.9 points and 4.6 rebounds in 49 games this season, his second with the Hornets.