Love says he'll play Game 5 despite mild knee injury
With the Eastern Conference finals now locked up at 2-2, the Cleveland Cavaliers can only hope that Kevin Love's under-the-radar knee injury from Game 4 doesn't evolve into something more.
With Love standing in the corner outside of the 3-point line late in the third quarter, the three-time NBA All-Star accidentally stepped on the foot of a nearby official before falling to the hardwood.
He came up limping on the possession, and didn't play a single minute in the fourth quarter for Cleveland during a 105-99 loss to the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre on Monday night.
When asked about his health status after the game, Love said his knee would probably feel sore on Tuesday, and that he'll play in Game 5 at Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday.
Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue isn't worried at all that one of his leading scorers won't be ready to go for the team's next game, stating that Love's absence during the final 12 minutes of Game 4 was strictly a lineup adjustment.
"There's no concern (about his health)," Lue said of Love. "I thought Channing (Frye) came in and gave us a great lift when we were down. And like I said last game, trying to put Kevin back in with four minutes to go in the fourth quarter in a hostile game, hostile environment, is not fair to him. So, Channing gave us a great lift off the bench, and we just kind of rolled with it."
Love finished Monday with 10 points, seven rebounds, and three assists on 4-of-14 shooting in 30 minutes of action.