WATCH: Tim Hardaway Jr. Exits on Wheelchair After Head Injury in Pistons vs. Heat NBA Cup Opener
3 min read
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Detroit Pistons guard Tim Hardaway Jr. had a harrowing moment during Tuesday night’s NBA Cup game against the Miami Heat, leaving the court in a wheelchair after a series of painful collisions. The Pistons narrowly clinched a 123-121 overtime victory, but the game’s intensity was overshadowed by Hardaway’s frightening fall in the third quarter, which left fans and teammates concerned about his condition.
The incident began while Hardaway was playing defense, accidentally colliding with Heat center Bam Adebayo. In an attempt to block Adebayo, Hardaway was struck by an elbow to the jaw, sending him briefly to the ground. Though shaken, he quickly got up and returned to the defensive end, only to face another unfortunate collision moments later with Miami guard Tyler Herro. This second impact knocked Hardaway forcefully to the court, where he appeared to hit his head on the hardwood. The Pistons’ guard immediately clutched his head, showing visible signs of pain.
The wheelchair comes out for Tim Hardaway Jr., who took two hard hits to the head on the same possession. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/hcbqeoEbML
— HEAT on FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSN_Heat) November 13, 2024
Tim Hardaway Jr lay on the floor for several minutes as Detroit’s training st aff attended to him, assessing his injuries and examining what appeared to be a bleeding wound. He was visibly disoriented and was ultimately escorted off the court in a wheelchair, with a towel draped over his head. This somber exit left Pistons fans and teammates anxious about the severity of his injuries.
Following the game, NBA insider Chris Haynes provided a reassuring update, noting that Hardaway’s initial CAT scan results were negative for any serious injuries. The Pistons guard will require stitches but is expected to avoid long-term damage. This news came as a relief after what initially appeared to be a severe injury.
HOLY SHIT
— 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅 🏆 (@PurpGolded) November 13, 2024
prayers for Tim 🙏 get well soon pic.twitter.com/XXZQvHSmg9
At the time of his exit, Tim Hardaway Jr had contributed 11 points, shooting 3-for-6 from the field in 19 minutes. His departure left Detroit without a valuable scorer, yet the Pistons managed to hold their lead through overtime, securing a hard-fought victory. Detroit led 64-59 when Hardaway left the game, and they ultimately extended their season record to 5-7 with the win.
Hardaway entered Tuesday’s game averaging 12.6 points per game with an impressive 47% shooting accuracy from beyond the arc. His strong performances have contributed to the Pistons’ competitive start this season, and his absence in future games would certainly impact the team’s scoring depth.
The Pistons are now preparing to face the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, though Hardaway’s availability remains uncertain.
That looks brutal wtf
— ChoZen (@Chozenboii) November 13, 2024
Bro this guy hit the top of his head on the floor after initially getting knocked out by the knee. He was out cold once he got the knee. My goodness.
— Arturo Botello (@turosmalls) November 13, 2024
Shivam Kumar
Hi, I'm Shivam Kumar. I'm pursuing Journalism honors from the IP University. I love the skill of writing and looking forward to learn more of it. Also I love traveling and experiencing new things every day....
