Celtics' Gordon Hayward suffers horrific damage as Cavaliers win NBA opener

Boston’s Gordon Hayward broke his left ankle simply 5 minutes into the season, a grisly damage that overshadowed Kyrie Irving’s return to Cleveland and the Cavaliers’ 102-99 win over the shocked Celtics on Tuesday night time.

LeBron James scored 29 factors 13 within the fourth quarter in his most in depth motion in three weeks due to a sprained left ankle. He additionally fed Kevin Love for a essential three-pointer with 46.three second left to place the Cavs up 102-98.

Irving, who requested to be traded this summer time after six seasons in Cleveland, had an opportunity to tie it with a three-pointer on the horn however missed. Irving then shared a heat embrace with James, his team-mate for 3 seasons. Irving completed with 22 factors for the Celtics, who overcame an 18-point deficit within the third and led with 2:04 left. Boston’s guard was additionally referred to as for a technical.

Hayward, who signed a four-year, $128m free agent contract with the Celtics this summer time, was bumped by James whereas making an attempt to catch an alley-oop move with 6:45 left within the first quarter. The ahead’s leg turned twisted beneath him as he got here again to the ground and snapped his ankle grotesquely, leaving it hanging at an odd angle. The 27-year-old sat up, checked out his foot and yelled in horror whereas some gamers coated their mouths and others turned their heads.

Hayward’s damage modified the tenor of the extremely anticipated season opener between two of the league’s greatest groups, and can probably alter the course of Boston’s season. Hayward would require surgical procedure and wish months to recuperate.
The Celtics have been understandably shaken at half-time, and went to the locker room down 16.

“I’ve seen a few accidents like that in my lifetime,” James stated after the sport. “I’ve seen Paul George when it occurred to Paul [with Team USA in 2014]. I used to be watching the sport with Shaun Livingston when it occurred when he was with the Clippers. I used to be watching NCAA basketball when Kevin Ware was at Louisville. These are the accidents that you simply by no means seen coming and also you by no means need to occur, regardless of who it's, it doesn't matter what the stature, regardless of how a lot aggressive nature that you've. It’s simply very unlucky.”

Irving’s free throw made it 102-99 as the sport approached its finish, and the Celtics had two late possibilities however each Jaylen Brown and Irving missed late threes. Love had 15 and Derrick Rose 14 in his debut for the Cavs, who're making an attempt to mix new faces and large egos shortly.

After the ultimate horn, James and Irving, who spent a part of the summer time making delicate jabs at one another following the blockbuster commerce, accomplished their signature handshake and the All-Star level guard greeted a number of former team-mates.

He should have a methods to go together with Cleveland’s crowd, which booed him each time he touched the ball. Irving heard it from the second he took the ground as Cleveland followers obtained their first probability to voice their displeasure towards him for demanding to be traded this summer time regardless of three consecutive journeys to the NBA Finals and one title.

However Hayward’s damage took a few of the chew out of Cleveland’s crowd, which gave the ahead a roaring ovation as he was taken off the ground on a stretcher. When Hayward went down, Boston’s gamers huddled in prayer close to their bench as a distressed James took a seat on the scorer’s desk in disbelief. The damage was a reminder that there are not any givens and video games, seasons and careers can change in a blink.

Within the night time’s different recreation the reigning NBA champions, the Golden State Warriors, fell to the Houston Rockets 122-121. Kevin Durant appeared to have gained the sport on the buzzer however after a evaluate the officers dominated that he had did not get his shot off on time.

“I didn’t assume it counted,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr stated. “Once I noticed it, it appeared to me prefer it was a bit late. Didn’t shock me it was overturned.”