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.