Cavs lose Love in second half from elbow to head
OAKLAND, Calif. — Kevin Love suffered a concussion after an elbow to the head by Harrison Barnes in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night in the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ 110-77 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
Love’s status for Wednesday’s Game 3 is up in the air as he will be required to enter the league’s concussion protocol. The Warriors took a 2-0 lead in the series with the win.
Barnes collided with Love as the two went for an offensive rebound with five minutes remaining in the second quarter. There was no foul called on the play.
Love stayed on the ground for several minutes while play went on. Love was evaluated on the team bench but he stayed in the game after a timeout.
Following halftime, Love looked disoriented while playing defense and walked off the floor without being subbed for. He then went to the locker room.
The Cavs then issued the following statement:
“Kevin Love experienced dizziness after returning to play at the start of the second half. He was taken to the locker room for further examination. The result of that exam is that he has now been placed in the NBA Concussion Protocol and will not return to play. Kevin did not exhibit any signs or symptoms during the first half, or at halftime, that would have caused him to be placed in the concussion protocol prior to now.”
If a player is expected of having a concussion, league rules call for testing before he can return to the floor. If the player doesn’t pass the tests, he must enter the concussion protocol. Love will not be able to return until he is symptom free and can pass tests that meet baselines he established in preseason testing.
