Utah Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks suffers gruesome broken leg in NBA game

Utah Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks has suffered a gruesome broken leg after it snapped suddenly while running on his own.

The second-year NBA player, 20, was taken from the court on a stretcher midway through the third quarter of a loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday (Tuesday AEDT).

Initial scans suggest he suffered a fractured right fibula and dislocated ankle.

Hendricks initially reacted to the injury by pushing himself along the floor.

But the realisation soon struck those around him and fans inside the arena, with teammates Walker Kessler and Keyonte George visibly emotional as medical staff rushed to help.

Dallas stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving both checked on Hendricks, who will undergo more tests in Utah.

He is facing several months on the sidelines.

Utah went on to suffer an eight-point defeat to fall to 0-3 to start the new season.

Elsewhere, Boston and Cleveland have both improved to 4-0 this season, while Josh Giddey’s Chicago Bulls bounced back from defeat against OKC to sneak home past Memphis.

Jaylen Brown has scored 30 points, Payton Pritchard came off the bench and hit eight three-pointers en route to 28 points, and the defending champions Boston beat Milwaukee 119-108 to remain perfect to start the NBA season.

Jayson Tatum added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Celtics (4-0), while Derrick White had 13 points and eight assists on Monday night at TD Garden.

Damian Lillard led the Bucks (1-3) with 33 points, seven rebounds and seven assists and Giannis Antetokounmpo had 30 points, 10 boards and six assists.

Cleveland are also 4-0 after Darius Garland’s season-high 34 points led the Cavaliers to a 110-104 win over the Knicks in New York.

Donovan Mitchell added 25 points, Evan Mobley had 17 and Jarrett Allen finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds for the Cavs, off to their best start since beginning their 2016 title defence 6-0.

Jalen Brunson had 21 points and seven assists for the Knicks (1-2), who led by 13 in the second half. Mikal Bridges scored 19 points, Josh Hart 16 and OG Anunoby 15. Karl-Anthony Towns fouled out with 13 points and 10 boards.

In Memphis, Australia’s Josh Giddey registered 12 points, eight assists and 13 rebounds as Chicago came from behind to defeat the Grizzlies 126-123.

Zach LaVine scored 30 points for the Bulls, while Nikola Vucevic finished with 22 and Coby White 20.

Giddey’s Boomers teammate Dyson Daniels compiled 11 points, three boards and one assist in Atlanta’s 121-119 home loss to Washington.

Jordan Poole scored 26 points for the Wizards and Kyle Kuzma had a 25-point, 11-rebound double-double.

Jalen Johnson led the Hawks with 29 points and Trae Young missed a three-pointer at the buzzer to finish with 14 points, 13 assists and six turnovers.

Earlier in Orlando, Paolo Banchero had the best night of his career.

Banchero tied the Magic record for points in a half, scoring 37, against the Indiana Pacers. He finished with a career-high 50 — tying the fifth-highest scoring effort in franchise history as Orlando won 119-115.

“Man, I’m tired. I’m tired as hell,” he said after the first 50-point effort in the league this season.

“That first half was a magical first half ... It was just being in the zone.

“Felt like I was in an open gym, back at home, just working on my game. Every shot felt like it was going in and it’s a good feeling when you’ve got a day like that. Not every game is going to be like that, but I’m glad today was.”

Banchero, the league’s rookie of the year two seasons ago and an All-Star last year, finished 16 of 26 from the floor. He also had 13 rebounds and nine assists.

- with AAP