Jaylen Brown is not feeling Gordon Hayward’s mustache

Getting back Gordon Hayward is a welcome development for the Boston Celtics, but teammate Jaylen Brown still feels the need to poke fun at his mustache.

The Boston Celtics topped the Miami Heat in Saturday night’s Game 3, avoiding a 3-0 deficit and breathing life back into the team’s pursuit of its first NBA Finals appearance since 2010. The game was also Gordon Hayward’s first appearance since previously leaving the bubble, and many Celtics credited him with making a profound impact in the win, per Boston.com.

However, Hayward could not completely avoid criticism, with fans and teammates roasting him about his mustache. Jaylen Brown, who dropped a team-high 26 points, called out Hayward in his post-game press conference, implying that he should ditch his new facial hair.

The talented wing got plenty of action in Game 3, and while his mustache was the subject of plenty of Twitter jokes, his teammates made it clear that he had an impact on the game. Hayward put up a modest stat line, contributing six points, five rebounds, and four assists in 31 minutes of action.

How important is Gordon Hayward’s return for the Celtics?

The former All-Star has had a career resurgence in 2020, averaging over 17 points per game and returning to his peak form after suffering a gruesome ankle injury two seasons ago in his first game as a Celtic. As the fourth-leading scorer on the team, his effective return will be crucial in overcoming the early series deficit.

The Miami Heat have looked fantastic throughout the postseason, and having supplemental scorers will be crucial for any team to get past them. Hayward complements Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker, and Brown exceedingly well, and with Marcus Smart also playing well, the Heat could have their hands full on the defensive side of the ball for the remainder of the series.

Hayward’s absence loomed large in the first two games, and if Boston can take Game 4 on Wednesday, his return could be seen as a turning point in this series.