Hayward shown in video for Celtic fans
Celtics forward Gordon Hayward sent a video message from his hospital bed before the team’s home opener, telling Boston fans: “It hurts me that I can’t be there.”
The crowd at the TD Garden for the Celtics’ game against the Milwaukee Bucks Wednesday night cheered when Hayward appeared on the video screen, wearing a hospital gown and sitting up in bed.
He said he was watching the game on TV and “I’m going to be all right.”
Hayward was injured in the sixth minute of his first game for the Celtics, crumpling to the floor Tuesday in Cleveland with a gruesome ankle injury.
Coach Brad Stevens said Hayward is expected to make a full recovery, but it’s not clear if it will be this season.
After playing his first seven years with the Utah Jazz, Hayward signed a fouryear, $128 million contract this offseason to rejoin Stevens — his college coach — in Boston
Bulls
Chicago suspended forward Bobby Portis for the first eight games of the season for injuring teammate Nikola Mirotic during a fight at practice. Mirotic suffered broken bones in his face as well as a concussion Tuesday and will likely need surgery. Vice president of basketball operations John Paxson said Mirotic is expected to miss four to six weeks, and that he needs to clear the concussion protocol before the facial injuries can be resolved. Paxson acknowledged fault on both sides while calling the incident “inexcusable.” He also called Portis “a good kid” who “made a mistake.”
Hornets
Michael Jordan latest slam dunk off the court might have come by way of the NBA’s new uniform contract with Nike. Because the Jordan Brand is a Nike subsidiary and the namesake of the six-time NBA champion, the Hornets will be the only NBA team to wear the Jordan Brand “Jumpman” logo on their uniforms this season. That would appear to be a merchandising windfall. After the switch from Adidas, the other 29 NBA teams will wear the Nike “swoosh” on their uniforms.
Rockets
Houston guard Chris Paul was questionable for the Rockets’ game in Sacramento because of left knee soreness. Paul was hampered at the end of the preseason by the knee pain which continued flaring Tuesday, and Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni says the perennial All-Star “is playing on one leg right now.”