Paul George gives words of encouragement to injury-hit Hayward

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Oklahoma City's Paul George said on Wednesday that he felt devastated seeing Celtics forward Gordon Hayward's injury in the season opener.

George, who suffered a compound leg fracture in August 2014, admitted it made him sick watching Hayward's injury.

"It just brought me back to past when it happened to me and my incident. Immediately I felt devastated. I was like nauseous watching it, just going back to that play," George said. "Immediately after it happened, I texted Gordon, we talked last night. I just try to give him words of encouragement and try to be there for him."

After signing with Boston in the offseason as a free agent, Hayward was injured in the sixth minute of his first game for the Celtics, crumpling to the floor Tuesday in Cleveland with a gruesome ankle injury. Players on both teams reacted in horror as Hayward's leg bent unnaturally.

George said that the recovery from such an injury takes a toll mentally and physically.

"You're always thinking about it," he said. "I have a bump on my leg for the rest of my life. I always think about it. It's always there. And then just being on the court, I'm not as explosive. I'm not as bouncy as I was. It's something I've got to live with now."