Celtics forward Gordon Hayward delivered a video message from his hospital bed that was displayed on the TD Garden scoreboard prior to the team’s home opener against the Bucks on Wednesday night. Hayward thanked the fans for their support and said he wished he could be at the game.

Hayward was also announced as a sixth starter after the starting lineups were introduced.

When Hayward fell to the floor and gruesomely dislocated his left ankle and fractured his tibia less than six minutes into the Celtics’ game against the Cavaliers on Tuesday, players recoiled and looked away and said prayers as Hayward sat below the hoop, his foot mangled.


But a swift response from all corners left the Celtics heartened and even encouraged that everything possible had been done to minimize both the physical and emotional damage. Coach Brad Stevens said Wednesday night that tests had confirmed that initial diagnosis, and that Hayward would undergo surgery sometime soon. A league source said later that Hayward was scheduled to have surgery on Wednesday night.

Brad Stevens says @gordonhayward is feeling down but the #Celtics expect a full recovery #WBZ pic.twitter.com/m6VZhYD9w1 — Joe Giza (@JoeGiza) October 18, 2017

The medical staffs of the Celtics and Cavaliers initially worked in tandem on Tuesday, with Cleveland providing instant access to its state-of-the-art equipment. Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert was in a medical room at Quicken Loans Arena with Hayward before some Celtics executives could get there, and he sent a text message telling them of their whereabouts.

Hayward’s parents, Gordon Sr. and Jody, were at the game, and the Celtics and Cavaliers worked jointly to ensure that they could be with their son, and that the process would be as seamless as possible for them. They had driven a rental car from their Indianapolis-area home, and the teams helped arrange for the father to return the car and get their belongings from their hotel in time to return to the arena and travel to the Celtics’ team plane with their son.


While Hayward was being treated in the Cavaliers’ medical room, he received visits from LeBron James and Isaiah Thomas, among others.

“It was well-handled by Cleveland and it was well-handled by our staff,” said Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca, who stayed with Hayward after the injury. “For something that was that traumatic, people really leaped into action. And I think it’ll pay off in the long run in his recovery. It was the NBA at its best. Everyone realized it was more important than any game.”

Hayward, who was calm and lucid throughout the process, was able to speak on the phone to his wife, Robyn, before he was transported to the airport. Initially, the Celtics had planned to fly him back to Boston on a separate jet, but it was determined that process would have taken longer than returning on the team plane. So he waited with his parents, team medical staffers, assistant general manager Mike Zarren, and Pagliuca.

The Celtics’ plane landed in Boston after 2 a.m., and Zarren then accompanied Hayward to New England Baptist Hospital, where Celtics team doctor Brian McKeon was waiting.

Stevens said he spent about an hour with Hayward at the hospital on Wednesday.

“He’s down,” Stevens said. “Obviously, there’s a physical pain to it, but I think it’s also doubled by the emotional pain of, you know, he put a lot of effort into trying to start this, his career out well in Boston. But this is a setback. We’re expecting a full recovery, and we know there are going to be a lot of tough days ahead on that recovery but, at the same time, hopefully he’ll improve day to day. But it’s been tough.”


Stevens said Hayward’s spirits have been lifted by all of the calls and text messages he has received. Thunder forward Paul George, who suffered a grisly leg injury in 2014, told reporters in Oklahoma City on Wednesday he already had spoken to Hayward.

“He’ll continue to need that support as he goes through this,” Stevens said. “But, again, we’re expecting this to be a full recovery. No timeline on it, but full recovery.”

Stevens has known Hayward since he recruited him to Butler University, and he said it is particularly difficult to see him go through this injury. But he said Hayward’s wife, two young daughters, and parents will “bring smiles to his face regardless of how he feels.”

“We’ll make sure he knows that we’ve got our arms around him,” Stevens said.

The Celtics had a giant "Get Well" card at TD Garden where fans could leave a message. Matt Stenuis of Belchertown is pictured as he signed the card. Jim Davis/Globe Staff

Bird activated

The Celtics activated rookie guard Jabari Bird. The Celtics had an open roster spot before Hayward’s injury, and Stevens said the team will now “actively” look to fill it.

“Because you lose one of your better shooters and more versatile players,” Stevens said, “a guy who can put the ball in the basket for you. We’ll see how that works itself out. We haven’t really gotten into it too much.”


Special player

Stevens spoke to Thomas, the former Celtic, in Cleveland on Tuesday. In August, Boston traded Thomas to the Cavs in the Kyrie Irving deal.

“We’ve got a great relationship,” Stevens said. “He’s a special guy to me and to everybody here . . . Obviously, he plays for another team but he’s a special guy to us.”

Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach.