Kelly Olynyk: 'I'd Probably Get Killed If I Went To Cleveland Right Now'

Kelly Olynyk reiterated Monday what he said after Sunday’s loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers: He did not intentionally injure Cavs forward Kevin Love.

“Obviously, I would never intentionally hurt him or any player on the floor,” the Boston Celtics big man told The Boston Globe. “I don’t think anybody in our league would intentionally try and hurt someone, especially at this time of year.”

Love suffered a dislocated shoulder after getting tangled up with Olynyk during the first quarter of Cleveland’s eventual 101-93 win at TD Garden. He missed the rest of the game and might be sidelined for the Cavs’ upcoming second-round playoff series, as well.

“It’s super unfortunate,” Olynyk told the Globe. “It’s terrible the way it happened. But, you know, it’s a part of basketball. Everyone gets tangled up and stuff. Unfortunately it happened. You’re always locked up, grabbing, pulling. It’s just unfortunate it happened.”

The second-year big man said he knows Cavs fans are angry at him, but he again stressed that any contact he had with Love was incidental.

“I’d probably get killed if I went to Cleveland right now,” Olynyk told the Globe. “I don’t think if someone gave me their arm and I was running forward like that and locked up, I don’t think I could dislocate someone’s arm if I tried. I think it’s a real tough thing to do.

“Like I said before, it’s kind of ridiculous to say (I) intentionally meant to. I’d never intentionally hurt someone, him or anybody else for that matter. I don’t think anybody goes out trying to hurt anyone. I think it’s just real unfortunate. If you get tangled up and he doesn’t dislocate his shoulder, there’s noting dirty ever said or anything. It’s just a foul. So, I just really hope he can get back as soon as possible and help that team keep making a push.”

The Cavs, who dispatched the Celtics in four games, will play either the Chicago Bulls or the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.