Cleveland Cavaliers’ All-Star big man Kevin Love was placed in concussion protocol, and will miss the Cavs’ Game 7 Eastern Conference Finals matchup with the Boston Celtics, the team announced.
Love was removed early in Game 6 after bumping heads with Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, who was attempting to fight through a screen, halfway through the first quarter:
Kevin Love went off to the locker room after knocking heads with Jayson Tatum pic.twitter.com/HYd59F3VSo
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 26, 2018
The Cavs were facing a 3-2 deficit heading into Game 6, and despite not having their second-best player on the floor, the team was able to pull out a ten-point victory after an explosion in the second quarter, orchestrated by LeBron James, who finished the contest with 46 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists.
The team will obviously miss Love’s scoring and rebounding as they attempt to make their fourth straight NBA Finals appearance. However, even if the Cavaliers do emerge victorious against the Celtics on Sunday, there is no certainty that the five-time All-Star will be able to return for the team’s NBA Finals matchup with either the Houston Rockets, who are experiencing their own injury troubles with Chris Paul sidelined, or the Golden State Warriors.
Love, in his fourth-playoff appearance, has struggled, averaging just 13.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists on 39% shooting from the field and 35% from three-point range through the first three rounds. Regardless, he is a key contributor for the Cavs and it is imperative that role players step up alongside LeBron James if the team plans on making another run for the franchise’s second championship.
