Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love has entered the NBA’s healthy and safety protocol and is expected to miss “several” games, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Love, 33, is averaging 9.9 points and 7.3 rebounds in the early season, coming off the bench in all seven games.
The Cavs (3-4) visit the Hornets on Monday night. You can read the Hoops Wire preview of that game right here.
NBA players are subject to daily testing for the COVID-19 virus, and while Charania didn’t specify whether Love has tested positive for the virus of if he came in contact with someone who is experiencing symptoms.
Love finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds in the Cavs’ loss Saturday in Phoenix. Overall, the Cavs have done fairly well despite a large chunk of their early season coming on the road — including the recent West Coast swing.
A big reason for that has been the play of Love and Ricky Rubio off the bench.
Charlotte marks Cleveland’s fifth straight road game.
“Things aren’t going to be given to us,” Love told reporters after Saturday’s loss. “We’re going to have to fight for everything we get.”
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) November 1, 2021
Now, it seems, the Cavs will have to try to do it again without Love. They are also missing second-year guard/forward Isaac Okoro, who will miss his fourth straight game with a hamstring issue.
This is just the latest setback for the oft-injured Love, who appeared in just 25 games last season after suffering a calf strain. He then parted ways with Team USA over the summer following a poor showing at training camp.
He has two years and $60 million remaining on his contract.
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