Hayward heartbreak
CLEVELAND — The Celtics’ season changed in a gruesome instant Tuesday night.
Gordon Hayward, one of the new Celtics who was going to help them close the gap on Cleveland, broke his left ankle just five minutes into his debut, and Boston was beaten 102-99 by LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
Hayward’s horrific injury overshadowed Kyrie Irving’s return to Cleveland and re-directed Boston’s immediate future and potential.
After the 27-year-old was wheeled from Quicken Loans Arena on a stretcher, offering a thumbs-up on his way to the ambulance, the Celtics rallied but came up short. The outcome hardly mattered.
“You hurt for him,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said of his former star at Butler. “It’s a tough, tough deal, but I guess that’s part of the risk of injury. I really feel for him.”
James scored 29 points — 13 in the fourth quarter — in his most extensive action in three weeks because of a sprained left ankle. The superstar also fed Kevin Love for a critical 3pointer with 46.3 seconds left to put the Cavs up 102-98.
Irving, who asked to be traded after six seasons in Cleveland, had a chance to tie it with a 3-pointer at the horn, but his shot was short. As the crowd exhaled, Irving shared a warm handshake and embrace with James.
Jaylen Brown scored 25 and Irving 22 and 10 assists for the Celtics, who overcame an 18point deficit in the third and led with 2:04 left.
Hayward, who signed a four-year, $128 million free agent contract with the Celtics this summer, was bumped by James while trying to catch an alley-oop pass with 6:45 left in the first quarter. The forward’s leg got twisted underneath him as he came back to the floor and snapped his ankle grotesquely, his foot pointing awkwardly to one side.
He sat up, looked at his foot and yelled while some players covered their mouths and others turned their heads.