Tim Hardaway Jr left the court in a wheelchair after hitting his head on the wood in the Pistons’ NBA Cup opener against the Miami Heat.
The Detroit star was rushed on the defensive end in the third quarter when he took consecutive hits from opposing players and called off his shift early.
Hardaway first took an accidental elbow from Miami center Bam Adebayo. As Euro headed to the rim, Adebayo hit Hardaway in the jaw, sending him to the ground.
While the initial hit hurt Hardaway, he got back to his feet and continued playing defense. However, while trying to generate a charge, Hardaway collided with Miami’s Tyler Herro.
He fell to the ground once again, as Herro and Pistons big man Jalen Durren fell on top of him.
Pistons star Tim Hardaway Jr. left the court in a wheelchair after colliding with Tyler Herro
The collision appeared to cause Hardaway’s head to hit the wood, which he gripped in pain.
He lay on the ground for an extended period while training staff tended to him. Hardaway appeared to be bleeding as his teammates stood around the paint.
Minutes later, Hardaway was wheeled out with a towel over his head.
NBA insider Chris Haynes later reported that Hardaway underwent a CT scan that came back negative. However, he received stitches for the cut on his head.
Before his unfortunate fall, Hardaway scored 11 points and was 3 of 6 from the field. Detroit maintained the lead, 64-59, and held on to win, 123-121, in overtime.
Tuesday’s victory moved the Pistons into seventh place in the Eastern Conference with a 5-7 record.
The Michigan product averages 12.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. Hardaway’s status has been set as a game-time decision as Detroit prepares to face the Bucks on Wednesday.
Hardaway scored 11 points and was 3 of 6 from the field before exiting in the third quarter.
Before his unfortunate fall, Hardaway scored 11 points and was 3 of 6 from the field. Detroit maintained the lead, 64-59, and held on to win, 123-121, in overtime.
Tuesday’s victory moved the Pistons into seventh place in the Eastern Conference with a 5-7 record.
The Michigan product averages 12.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. Hardaway’s status has been set as a game-time decision as Detroit prepares to face the Bucks on Wednesday.