National Basketball Association

Kevin Love benched with 2 fouls in first 2 minutes, Cavs catch fire

Published Jun. 16, 2016 9:16 p.m. ET

foxsports

Kevin Love has been the most talked-about player of the NBA Finals, due to his incredibly below-average play. He's been taunted by his own Cleveland Cavaliers fans, who even started a GoFundMe account to raise funds to offer him in exchange for sitting out Game 6.

Love himself has admitted he needs to step up if the Cavs are to have a chance at rallying to force Game 7. So how did he respond in Game 6?

Love picked up two fouls in the first two minutes and had to retreat to the bench. It probably was the best thing that could happen for the Cavs.

Cleveland raced to an early 20-point lead as Richard Jefferson filled in for Love quite capably. It helped that Stephen Curry also had to sit with two first-quarter fouls.

Love returned to start the second quarter ... and picked up his third foul in less than 90 seconds, sending him back to the bench.

It worked out well for the Cavs, who forced Game 7 with a 115-101 win. Love finished with seven points, three rebounds and two assists in 12 minutes.

At this point, Kevin Love is the dude you let hang w/ your crew only bc he's always willing to drive.#NBAFinals
— Robert Flores (@RoFlo) June 17, 2016

When Cavs fans see Kevin Love is starting and then he immediately exits due to foul trouble ... pic.twitter.com/E6sRUgrpqe
— SportsPickle (@sportspickle) June 17, 2016

Kevin Love with as many fouls.... as he had points last game AMIRITE?! pic.twitter.com/bHwRWWtHkr
— The Undefeated (@TheUndefeated) June 17, 2016

Kevin Love this series pic.twitter.com/CyrWJS0H2G
— Wildcat Woodz (@WildcatWoodz) June 17, 2016

Thinking the money from that @gofundme account to keep Love out of Game 6 went straight to that ref that called the 3rd foul.
— Sean Pendergast (@SeanTPendergast) June 17, 2016