Report: Love expected to be cleared for Game 4, come off the bench

by Chris Walder 30m ago

Jason Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Cleveland Cavaliers came to play on Wednesday night in a convincing Game 3 win in the NBA Finals over the Golden State Warriors, even without starting power forward Kevin Love in the lineup.

The Eastern Conference champs may not have to go without Love much longer, as those within the organization believe that the three-time All-Star will be medically cleared to take part in Game 4 on Friday, according to the Akron Beacon Journal's Jason Lloyd.

He'll likely come off the bench if that's the case, with veteran Richard Jefferson remaining in the starting lineup, league sources told Lloyd.

Love suffered a concussion and was placed in the league's concussion protocol after receiving an inadvertent elbow to the back of the head courtesy of Warriors forward Harrison Barnes in Game 2.

He was reportedly extremely frustrated that the team's doctors wouldn't clear him to compete on Wednesday, although his absence didn't hinder the Cavaliers in the slightest bit in a 30-point drubbing of the defending champions.

Love took part in basketball drills on Thursday. Head coach Tyronn Lue acknowledged that 24 hours will need to pass after the fact until the team can make an official ruling on Love's status.

Lue wouldn't reveal his plans for Love in his news conference following the Cavs' Game 3 victory.

Love is averaging 16.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 32 minutes over the course of the first real postseason run of his playing career.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Report: Love expected to be cleared for Game 4, come off the bench