Just over five minutes into his debut with the Boston Celtics, All-Star forward Gordon Hayward was taken off the floor on a stretcher after suffering a gruesome leg injury in Cleveland.
Both teams’ medical staffs examined Hayward and the initial diagnosis is a fractured ankle.
After a medical evaluation from both the Celtics and Cavaliers staff, Gordon Hayward has been diagnosed w/ a fractured left ankle. #CLEvsBOS
— Kristen Ledlow (@KristenLedlow) October 18, 2017
TNT’s Kevin Harlan immediately exclaimed, “Hayward broke his leg! Hayward has broken his leg! Hayward has broken his leg!”
Kevin Harlan on Gordon Hayward: "As gruesome an injury as you'll see in sports."
— John Ourand (@Ourand_Puck) October 18, 2017
If you didn't watch, the snap sound on the TV was horrific. So that's all I can say. Very disturbing.
— Stephanie McCarroll (@SoCaliSteph) October 18, 2017
WARNING: Graphic footage of Hayward suffering the injury.
Here was the Celtics’ huddle in the moments after the injury:
The @celtics huddle after Gordon Hayward injury. pic.twitter.com/ODAjyEnTVY
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) October 18, 2017
LeBron James reportedly went into the locker room to show support for Hayward.
LeBron James just went into Cavs locker room where Gordon Hayward is receiving medical attention
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) October 18, 2017
The sharpshooting Hayward signed a four-year, $122 million contract with the Celtics over the offseason after spending the previous seven seasons with the Utah Jazz. The Celtics immediately increased from 15/1 odds to win the NBA title to 12/1 odds after signing him.
Hopefully Hayward will be able to make a full recovery this season.
UPDATE: Mike Gorman reports that he’s hearing Hayward does not have ligament damage, which would be very good news.
Mike Gorman says early word from sources is Gordon Hayward's fracture was 'clean' #celtics pic.twitter.com/3fz3w0Kj4O
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) October 18, 2017
[TNT]
