The Cleveland Cavaliers began Sunday with hopes of closing out their opening-round NBA Playoffs series with the Boston Celtics, but they had potentially bigger concerns by the end of the first quarter.
Forward Kevin Love injured his left shoulder when he became entangled with the Celtics center Kelly Olynyk and immediately left the court in obvious discomfort.
ESPN's Heather Cox reported on the ABC broadcast Love would not return to the game, but Love's long-term prognosis is unclear.
In the third quarter, Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith was issued a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected from the game for a play in which Celtics forward Jae Crowwder injured his knee and was unable to return.
The Cavaliers won the game to sweep the 4 game series.
Followng the game, the Cavaliers released this statement about the Kevin Love injury:
"Cavaliers forward Kevin Love experienced a dislocated left shoulder during the first quarter of the Cavaliers game in Boston vs. the Celtics Sunday afternoon. He did not return to play. Love will travel back to Cleveland with the Cavs later this afternoon and receive additional examination, imaging and evaluation at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health over the next 24 hours. His status will be updated following that."
