NBA Rumors: Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward suffered a gruesome ankle injury in their season-opening games against the Cleveland Cavaliers
The NBA couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start Tuesday night.
The season-opening game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics began as most thought it would – both teams, who underwent major changes over the offseason, were showcasing their new weapons. The crowd was in it as the Celtics and Cavs exchanged jabs.
However, it all changed in an instant.
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Midway through the first quarter, Gordon Hayward, who signed with Boston as a free agent over the summer, suffered a gruesome ankle injury after he landed awkwardly on an alley-oop attempt.
(Editor’s Note: We will not post video of the injury. It’s easy to find on the internet if interested.)
Hayward was unable to get off the court under his own power, and was carted off after his ankle/leg was mobilized. According to Yahoo’s Shams Charania, Hayward was later diagnosed with a fractured left ankle.
It’s unlikely that we’ll see a reputable recovery timetable for a while, although there will be some “educated guesses” floating around over the next few days. However, until we hear it from the Celtics, those “reports” should be taken with a grain of salt.
It’s tough to look forward, especially right now, but the Celtics will have to figure out a way to make the best out of an absolutely terrible situation.
That onus will likely fall on Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, two of Boston’s brighter young prospects. They won’t be asked to replace Hayward – that’s probably impossible to do – but they will help cope with the loss of an NBA All-Star caliber player.
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Hayward averaged a career-high 22 points, five rebounds and four assists last season with the Utah Jazz.