Cavs’ Kevin Love OK to play in Game 5 despite injury in loss to Raptors
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Cavaliers forward Kevin Love was injured late in the third quarter of Monday’s Game 4 loss to the Raptors, but he said the injury would not prevent him from playing in Game 5 on Wednesday.
“I’ll be fine,” Love said after the game, according to USA Today. “Probably sore tomorrow. Just got to play. Nothing that will prevent me from playing.”
Love appeared to step on a referee’s foot and fell to the ground. He sat out of the fourth quarter, which coach Tyronn Lue said was not a result of his apparent injury but instead was an opportunity to give forward Channing Frye more playing time.
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“I’m not sure of his health. But it’s no concern,” Lue said. “I thought Channing came in and gave us a great lift. And like I said, like last game, to just try to put Kevin back in with four minutes to go in the fourth quarter in a hostile game, hostile environment, it's not fair to him.”
Love also sat out of the fourth quarter of Game 3 after missing eight of nine shots in 29 minutes of play. In Game 4, Love’s performance improved only marginally, as he made 4 of 14 shots for 10 points. Over Games 3 and 4, Frye scored 23 points in 42 minutes on the court.
The Cavaliers will host the Raptors for Game 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
