BOSTON — Kevin Love dislocated his left shoulder Sunday while tangled up with Kelly Olynyk. Afterward, with his arm in a sling, Love didn’t hold back in his criticism of the Boston Celtics big man.
“I thought it was a bush-league play,” Love said after his Cleveland Cavaliers’ 101-93 win sealed a four-game NBA playoff series sweep at TD Garden. “I was out there, Olynyk was in a compromising position and had no chance to get the ball. It’s just too bad that he would go to those lengths to take somebody out of a game and do that to someone. I have no doubt in my mind (Olynyk) did it on purpose.”
Cavaliers forward LeBron James and point guard Kyrie Irving both said “it wasn’t a basketball play.” Cavaliers coach David Blatt said he didn’t see the play, but “there’s a line, and that line shouldn’t be crossed, and that’s what the league is for.”
When asked if he lost respect for the Celtics, Love responded: “I knew it would be chippy, on both ends it was. At least from my play because it affects me personally and me wanting to be out there in my first time going through a playoff series, it’s very disheartening.
“We haven’t had any imaging yet, so we’ll kind of see and go from there. I do intend on playing in these playoffs again, but we just have to wait and see.”
Love finished with two points and one rebound in 6:38 of playing time before leaving the game. His best performance of the series came in Game 3, when he scored 23 points, including two clutch 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter, and grabbed nine rebounds.
The Cavaliers aren’t certain of Love’s status, but they will play the winner of the Chicago Bulls-Milwaukee Bucks series in Round 2. Chicago owns a 3-1 series lead.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
