Hayward vows to come back after leg injury

NEW YORK – Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward vowed he “will be all right” in a video message Wednesday after a gruesome left leg injury from which he is expected to make a full recovery.

Hayward appeared in a video message from his hospital bed before the Celtics’ home opener against Milwaukee just a night after suffering the injury in a 102-99 loss at Cleveland.

“I’m going to be all right,” Hayward said in a video shown on the arena scoreboard. “It’s hurting me that I can’t be there for the home opener.

“I want nothing more than to be with my teammates and walk out on that floor tonight. But I’ll be supporting you guys from here and wishing you the best of luck.”

Hayward was flown back to Boston and taken to New England Baptist Hospital, where doctors diagnosed Hayward with a dislocated left ankle and fractured left tibia.

Celtics coach Brad Stevens said Hayward is expected to fully recover but would not estimate a timetable for when he might return until after surgery, which ESPN reported would be conducted Wednesday night.