During their Game 4 loss to the Toronto Raptors, the Cleveland Cavaliers had another postseason injury scare with Kevin Love. Last year, his shoulder was dislocated when Kelly Olynyk yanked Love’s arm while battling for a rebound. It caused him to miss the rest of the postseason as the Cavs advanced to the Finals but lost in six games.
This time, it was Love stepping on the foot of a referee during the third quarter of Game 4 that looked to put the star in jeopardy of playing.
He missed the entire fourth quarter, but coach Tyronn Lue said it had more to do with Channing Frye’s play than any injury to Love. Love tweaked his knee on the misstep, but despite some expected soreness and discomfort, his knee won’t keep him from playing in Game 5 in Cleveland Wednesday night. He’s expecting to play. From ESPN:
Love, who struggled in both losses in Toronto, missed 10 of 14 shots and had only 10 points as the Raptors held off Cleveland 105-99 on Monday night to even the series at 2-2. Love said his knee injury will not prevent him from playing in Game 5 on Wednesday.
“I think Kyrie [Irving] was shooting towards the end of the third quarter, and I stepped on the official’s foot, and it didn’t feel too great,” said Love, who had a total of 13 points and 11 rebounds in Games 3 and 4. “More so the knee [than the ankle hurting]. Will be sore tomorrow, but nothing that will prevent me from playing.”
You can check out the play here. You can see that as teammate Kyrie Irving was going for a shot on the other side of the half court, Love stepped back while stretching the floor for the Cavs, and his foot went right on top of the foot of the official. Love went to the ground immediately and struggled to get off the floor.
Courtesy CBS Sports
