NBA Finals: Cavaliers’ Kevin Love Ruled Out For Game 3 Against Warriors

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors have taken a commanding lead in the NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers losing the first two games of the seven-game series in convincing fashion. As if being crushed by the Warriors on the road in consecutive games wasn’t bad enough for LeBron James and company, Kevin Love has been ruled out for Game 3 due to a concussion suffered in Game 2 back in Oakland. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, Love will not play in Game 3:

Despite his efforts to convince team officials that he’s well enough to play, Cavaliers forward Kevin Love has been informed that he is not medically cleared to participate in Wednesday’s Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

Losing Love for Game 3 is potentially devastating for the Cavaliers with the team desperately needing to get back into this series with a win on the home floor in Cleveland. Although losing Love isn’t like losing LeBron, this team has been thoroughly outplayed in this series and needs every able body, especially a player that can stretch the floor and attack the glass like Love.

Despite Golden State’s apparent dominance and the absence of Love, the Cavaliers will head into Wednesday’s game as the favorites. Cleveland is currently the -1 point favorite (via Sportsbook.ag) at home and will need to come out with the win to have any hope of competing with a Warriors team aiming for a second straight NBA title.

Although the Cavaliers are favored without Kevin Love, the Warriors have shown they’re the better team in every way. LeBron James and company will be highly motivated in Game 3 and will have an extremely loud crowd at Quicken Loans Arena backing them up, but Curry’s Warriors will continue their dominance taking a potentially insurmountable 3-0 lead.