Cavaliers Kevin Love Will Not Play Game 7

Kevin Love is not going to play the decisive Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals best of seven series on Sunday between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, as the forward was put in concussion protocol.

The Cavaliers released a statement that said Love was experiencing concussion-like symptoms following a collision with Jayson Tatum of the Celtics during the first quarter of Game 6 on Friday.

Just prior to the team’s announcement, no one was quite sure of Love’s status. Initially Coach Tyronn Lue said during his conference call that his forward had been place in concussion protocol.

However, he backtracked from that after more questioning, saying Love was being evaluated at the time and he did not know if Love would be put into the protocol.

Love sat out one game during the NBA Finals in 2016 because of a concussion and this past March missed time due to a concussion.

There was no update from Lue on the status of LeBron James who slightly injured his right leg when he collided with his teammate Larry Nance Jr. during the fourth quarter of Friday’s win. However, Lue did say James would play on Sunday.

Cleveland has played strong basketball during this series when Love has been on the sideline. The Cavaliers have a point differential of minus-20 with Love playing and are at plus-18 when Love is sitting. The offensive efficiency increases 11.8 per 100 possessions when Love is off the court during this series.

Boston coach Brad Stevens said his team would prepare to play regardless of the players on the court, but would also prepare specifically for how the Cavaliers look without Love playing. Stevens spoke of how some things on offense are run differently without Love on the court.

Boston’s Tatum saw the team physicians on Saturday when the Celtics met to watch film and Stevens said there were not any concerns about lingering issues for the rookie following his violent collision with Love on Friday.

Stevens said both the team’s doctor and the primary physician had examined Tatum and gave him the green light to play on Sunday.