CLEVELAND -- New Boston Celtics star forward Gordon Hayward fractured his left ankle when he was bumped in the air by LeBron James and fell with his leg pinned under him in the first quarter of the NBA's season opener against Cleveland on Tuesday.Hayward, 27, who signed a four-year, $128 million contract in the offseason with the Celtics, was trying to convert a lob pass from Kyrie Irving when he and James ran into each other. Hayward immediately called for help while his ankle was apparently dislodged.The team later announced Hayward suffered a fractured ankle.The Celtics huddled in prayer and new Celtic teammate Irving had to be consoled while medical personnel stabilized Hayward's leg. He was carried off the court on a stretcher.

CLEVELAND -- New Boston Celtics star forward Gordon Hayward fractured his left ankle when he was bumped in the air by LeBron James and fell with his leg pinned under him in the first quarter of the NBA's season opener against Cleveland on Tuesday.Hayward, 27, who signed a four-year, $128 million contract in the offseason with the Celtics, was trying to convert a lob pass from Kyrie Irving when he and James ran into each other. Hayward immediately called for help while his ankle was apparently dislodged.The team later announced Hayward suffered a fractured ankle.The Celtics huddled in prayer and new Celtic teammate Irving had to be consoled while medical personnel stabilized Hayward's leg. He was carried off the court on a stretcher.

F Gordon Hayward dislocated his left ankle and fractured his left tibia in the first quarter of Tuesday's 102-99 loss in Cleveland.Hayward, 27, who signed a four-year, $128 million contract in the offseason with the Celtics, immediately called for help with the foot and ankle dangling in the wrong direction. "You hurt for him," Boston coach Brad Stevens said. "He's put in a lot of great work and I thought he had his most comfortable week as far as feeling like he was going to play really well. Now, hopefully we get a full recovery and it's a tough deal, but I guess that's part of it, the risk of injury."

The highly anticipated debuts of Chris Paul with the Houston Rockets and Gordon Hayward with the Boston Celtics will highlight the opening night of the NBA season, the league announced Thursday.Paul and the Rockets will visit the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday Oct. 17 as the second part of a doubleheader on TNT. Paul, a nine-time All-Star point guard, spent the past six seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, while the Warriors will be receiving NBA championship rings for the second time in the past three seasons.In the opener, Hayward and the Celtics will visit the Cleveland Cavaliers in a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference finals. Hayward joined Boston as a free agent during the summer after seven seasons with the Utah Jazz, including making his first All-Star appearance last season.Cleveland once again will have LeBron James on the floor but the status of guard Kyrie Irving remains unclear after he asked to be traded.The NBA also announced its five Christmas Day matchups with... [More]

The Boston Celtics traded guard Avery Bradley to the Detroit Pistons for forward Marcus Morris, the team announced Friday.The deal creates the salary-cap space the Celtics needed to sign All-Star free agent forward Gordon Hayward to a four-year, $128 million maximum contract, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.The Celtics also will send a 2019 second-round pick to the Pistons.With Bradley headed to Motown, the Pistons withdrew their qualifying offer and renounced the rights to restricted free-agent guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. He will become an unrestricted free agent.Detroit had been reluctant to meet Caldwell-Pope's $25 million-plus asking price. The Brooklyn Nets plan to make an aggressive play for Caldwell-Pope, league sources told ESPN.The Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers also were pursing Bradley in the past 24 hours, league sources told ESPN.The 26-year-old Bradley, a two-time All-Defensive Team player, averaged 16.3 points and 6.1 rebounds and shot 39 percent from... [More]

The Boston Celtics agreed to trade guard Avery Bradley to the Detroit Pistons for forward Marcus Morris, according to multiple reports Friday.The deal creates the salary-cap space the Celtics needed to sign All-Star free agent forward Gordon Hayward to a four-year, $128 million maximum contract, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.The Celtics also will send a 2019 second-round pick to the Pistons, according to The Vertical.The Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers also were pursing Bradley in the past 24 hours, league sources told ESPN.The 26-year-old Bradley, a two-time All-Defensive Team player, averaged 16.3 points and 6.1 rebounds and shot 39 percent from 3-point range last season. In seven seasons with the Celtics, he averaged 12.1 points and 3.1 rebounds.Morris, 27, played six NBA seasons with the Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns and Pistons. He averaged 14.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 79 games with the Pistons last season.Hayward, 27, chose the Celtics earlier this week over the Miami Heat and Utah Jazz, the team with which he played his first seven seasons since he was drafted No. 9 overall in 2010.Hayward averaged a career-best 21.9 points and 5.4 rebounds to go along with 3.5 assists last season for the Jazz, who made their first playoff appearance since 2012.

F Gordon Hayward will open the free-agent process by meeting with the Miami Heat on Saturday, according to multiple reports. Hayward, who played in his first All-Star game last season, will also consider remaining with the Utah Jazz or departing for the Boston Celtics. Hayward averaged 21.9 points for the Jazz last season. The 27-year-old reportedly will meet with the Jazz on Monday.

Highly coveted forward Gordon Hayward will open the free-agent process by meeting with the Miami Heat on Saturday, according to multiple reports.Hayward, who played in his first All-Star game last season, will also consider remaining with the Utah Jazz or departing for the Boston Celtics.Hayward averaged 21.9 points for the Jazz last season. The 27-year-old reportedly will meet with the Jazz on Monday.Utah is hoping to retain Hayward, who emerged as the face of the franchise last season. The Jazz can offer him a five-year deal worth approximately $180 million.The Heat and Celtics can offer four-years deals of approximately four years for $127 million.The Celtics have long held an interest in Hayward due to coach Brad Stevens once being Hayward's college coach at Butler.The NBA free-agency period begins at 12:01 a.m. ET on Saturday.

F Gordon Hayward scored 25 points in the Jazz's season-ending, 121-95 loss to the Warriors on Monday. He made just 8 of 21 shots from the floor.

Gordon Hayward scored 29 points in Saturday's 102-91 loss to Golden State that left Utah in a 3-0 hole in their Western Conference best-of-seven semifinal series.

F Gordon Hayward, held to 12 points in Tuesday's 106-94 loss in Game 1, led all scorers with 33 points.Hayward connected on 11 of 21 shots, including 3-for-8 on 3-pointers, for the Jazz. He had been 4-for-15 in the opening loss.Utah is now 0-3 this postseason when Hayward scores at least 30 points.

F Gordon Hayward missed 11 of his 15 shots and was limited to 12 points.

F Gordon Hayward scored 19 of his 26 points in the second half of Sunday's victory over the Clippers. He also pulled down eight rebounds.

LOS ANGELES -- Gordon Hayward scored 26 points and collected eight rebounds to lead seven Utah scorers in double figures, and the Jazz eliminated the Los Angeles Clippers from the Western Conference playoffs with a 104-91 victory in Game 7 on Sunday at Staples Center.George Hill and Derrick Favors contributed 17 points apiece as the Jazz advanced to the second round, where they will meet the Golden State Warriors. Game 1 is Tuesday at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif.Favors also grabbed 11 rebounds before fouling out with 5:24 remaining. Joe Ingles had 12 points, Rodney Hood 11 and Joe Johnson and Boris Diaw 10 each.DeAndre Jordan had 24 points and 17 boards to lead the Clippers. Jamal Crawford added 20 points and Chris Paul had 13 points and nine assists. Paul Pierce scored six points in 21 minutes in his final NBA game.Celtics 123, Wizards 111BOSTON -- Boston spotted Washington the first 16 points and then roared to an opening win in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.The Celtics,... [More]

F Gordon Hayward scored 31 points to lead Utah.Hayward and Jazz G Rodney Hood shot a combined 3 of 15 on 3-pointers.

HOUSTON -- Lou Williams scored 10 points during an opening burst in the fourth quarter, and James Harden finished with a team-high 34 points as the Houston Rockets rallied for a 105-99 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night to claim their Western Conference first-round playoff series in five games.Williams opened the fourth with two free throws and added three more from the line plus a deep 3-pointer that pushed the Houston lead to 86-81. The Rockets once again made progress with the Thunder's Russell Westbrook on the bench, holding onto their lead even after Westbrook re-entered the game with 9:09 left.Westbrook amassed 47 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists but shot 2 of 11 in the final period -- 0 for 5 from behind the 3-point arc -- after carrying the Thunder to the lead in the third. None of his teammates finished with more than 11 points.Harden shot 16 of 17 from the free-throw line. Williams totaled 22 points, while guard Patrick Beverley added 15 points and eight... [More]

F Gordon Hayward scored 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds, and the Utah Jazz held off the Los Angeles Clippers 96-92 to take a 3-2 lead in their Western Conference playoffs series Tuesday night at Staples.Hayward played 41 minutes after being forced out of Game 4 with food poisoning.

SALT LAKE CITY -- Jazz forward Gordon Hayward left Utah's Game 4 against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night in the second quarter and did not return.Hayward, who exited with 8:42 left in the half, was struggling with the effects of food poisoning. He finished with three points and two rebounds in nine minutes. The 6-foot-9 Hayward averaged 26.3 points and 8.0 rebounds in Utah's first three playoff games. He scored a career-high 40 points in a 111-106 loss to the Clippers on Friday. Hayward averaged 21.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists during the regular season.

F Gordon Hayward left Utah's Game 4 against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night in the second quarter and did not return.Hayward, who exited with 8:42 left in the half, was struggling with the effects of food poisoning. He finished with three points and two rebounds in nine minutes. The 6-foot-9 Hayward averaged 26.3 points and 8.0 rebounds in Utah's first three playoff games. He scored a career-high 40 points in a 111-106 loss to the Clippers on Friday."He was basically on his back up until game time," Utah coach Quin Snyder said. "He had IVs and whatever kind of anti-nausea stuff they were trying to give him to get him in a better place. He wanted to play and got out there and just didn't have anything."

SALT LAKE CITY -- Jazz forward Gordon Hayward left Utah's Game 4 against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night in the second quarter and did not return.Hayward, who exited with 8:42 left in the half, was struggling with the effects of food poisoning. He finished with three points and two rebounds in nine minutes. The 6-foot-9 Hayward averaged 26.3 points and 8.0 rebounds in Utah's first three playoff games. He scored a career-high 40 points in a 111-106 loss to the Clippers on Friday. Hayward averaged 21.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists during the regular season.