LeBron James scored 29 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, in his most extensive play in three weeks due to a sprained left ankle, and fed Kevin Love for a crucial three-pointer with 46.3 seconds left to put the Cavaliers up 102-98. Gordon Hayward’s horrific injury, which occurred just five minutes into the season, overshadowed Kyrie Irving’s return to Cleveland and the Cavaliers’ 102-99 victory over the shocked Celtics on Tuesday night.
With 6:45 remaining in the first quarter, Hayward, who agreed to a four-year, $128 million free agent deal with the Celtics this summer, was tripped by James as he attempted to collect an alley-oop pass. As he fell back to the ground, the forward’s leg twisted under him, snapping his ankle horribly and leaving it dangling at an unnatural angle. While several players covered their mouths and others turned their heads, the 27-year-old stood up, stared at his foot, and yelled in despair.
The highly anticipated season opening between two of the league’s top teams was altered by Hayward’s injury, and Boston’s season will probably change as a result. Hayward will need surgery, and recovery will take months.
At halftime, the Celtics were understandably rattled and behind by 16 points.
In my lifetime, I’ve seen a few injuries like that, James stated following the game. “I was there when Paul George experienced it [when playing for Team USA in 2014]. Shaun Livingston, who was playing for the Clippers at the time, and I were watching the game together. When Kevin Ware was playing for Louisville, I was watching NCAA basketball. No matter who it is, how tall they are, or how competitive they are, those are the injuries that you never see coming and that you never want to occur. Just a terrible shame.
As the game came to a close, Irving’s free throw made it 102-99. The Celtics had two final opportunities, but both Jaylen Brown and Irving missed long three-pointers. For the Cavaliers, who are attempting to swiftly integrate fresh faces and large egos, Love had 15 points and Derrick Rose had 14 in his debut.
Following the blockbuster deal, James and Irving spent some of the summer poking fun at one another in subtle ways. After the final bell, they finished their trademark handshake, and the All-Star point guard greeted a few old teammates.
With Cleveland’s audience, which jeered him each time he touched the ball, he could still have some work to do. Cleveland fans had their first opportunity to express their unhappiness with Irving for asking to be traded this summer after making three straight appearances in the NBA Finals and winning one championship, and Irving heard it as soon as he took the stage.
Cleveland’s fans cheered the forward as he was carried off the floor on a stretcher, but Hayward’s injury lessened their enthusiasm. When Hayward was injured, the Boston players gathered around on their bench to pray, and James, upset and in shock, sat down on the scorer’s table. The injury served as a reminder that nothing is guaranteed and that games, seasons, and careers can all be altered in an instant.
The Golden State Warriors, the current NBA champions, lost to the Houston Rockets 122-121 in the other game of the evening. Despite the fact that Kevin Durant appeared to have won the game at the buzzer, the officials later determined that he had not fired his shot in time.
Steve Kerr, the coach of Golden State, remarked, “I didn’t think it counted.” “From what I could see, it appeared to be a little late. I wasn’t shocked to see it flipped upside down.
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