Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward suffered an awful-looking leg injury in the first quarter of the Celtics' first game of the season at the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night.
Hayward came down hard after jumping for a pass, and the severity of the injury was immediate. Celtics and Cavaliers both looked away as they realized what had happened. He remained on the floor for several minutes before being taken off the court on a stretcher.
The Celtics later announced Hayward suffered a fractured left ankle.
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ae_hutchinson: Gordon Hayward! TNT NBA Basketball: Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers https://t.co/wir14vfuVE pic.twitter.com/xMvy6VhLdi
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) October 18, 2017
The 27-year-old Hayward was the ninth overall pick by the Utah Jazz in the 2010 NBA Draft. He played for the Jazz for seven seasons and was a 2017 All-Star selection. He signed with the Celtics in July.
The @celtics huddle after Gordon Hayward injury. pic.twitter.com/ODAjyEnTVY
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) October 18, 2017
.@KingJames shows support for @gordonhayward after injury. pic.twitter.com/GIkQ1dqMLY
— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 18, 2017
Prayers up @gordonhayward
— Devin Booker (@DevinBook) October 18, 2017