THIS JUST IN: Cavaliers say it is "highly unlikely" Kevin Love will return at any point for the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/9y2pMRYOCK
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 28, 2015
It looks like Kevin Love’s first taste of the NBA postseason may be coming to an abrupt end. The Cavaliers announced on Tuesday that it’s highly unlikely Love will be able to return at any point for the playoffs.
“The damage to his shoulder is extensive,” Cavaliers G.M. David Griffin told ESPN. “This is not a situation where we are expecting that he will be available for any of (the rest of the postseason), and we are in the process of gathering information and seeing what the exact right next steps are, and every option is on the table.”
Love was injured during Cleveland’s Game 4 close-out victory, when he got tangled up with Celtics forward Kelly Olynyk while chasing after a loose ball.
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Love called Olynyk’s actions “bush league” and said he thought it was intentional.
According to Cleveland.com, surgery is being considered as are some other treatment options for Love.
An MRI on Monday revealed “an acute anterior inferior glenohumeral dislocation with the corresponding ligament/labrum tearing and humeral head bone bruising.”
Love played the first six years of his career with the Timberwolves, who never made the postseason while he was in Minnesota. In the offseason, he was traded to Cleveland for top pick Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and Thaddeus Young.
Love didn’t post the gaudy stats with the Cavs that he had in years past with the Timberwolves, but he still averaged a respectable 16.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game this season while playing alongside LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.
