*UPDATED
Kevin Love needed to have a big game for the Cleveland Cavaliers to stave off elimination in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but his time on the floor was cut short in a hurry on Friday night.
Love left the game shaken up after he collided with Celtics rookie Jayson Tatum in the first quarter of the pivotal matchup in Cleveland, and the team announced at halftime that he would not return as they continued to evaluate him for a possible concussion.
Love was caught off guard with the Cavaliers on offense and Tatum attempting to guard another Cavs player, and the two players bumped heads as a result. Love ended up tumbling to the floor on the play, and he stayed down holding his head until play was stopped.
Kevin Love is headed into the locker room after a scary collision with Jayson Tatum pic.twitter.com/1AgeEZC7bv
— HoopitNBAlive (@Hoopit_NBA_Live) May 26, 2018
Tatum stayed in the game, though he wasn’t the one who ended up on his back because of the collision. ESPN’s Jeff Van Gundy openly wondered why a foul wasn’t called on the play, but there was no review of the collision even through the media timeout while Cavs staff tended to the injured Love.
Love nodded toward Calderon that he was OK. Certain they will do concussion test first.#Cavs
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) May 26, 2018
Love indicated he was fine as he headed to the locker room, but he went through the league’s concussion protocol before it was determined that he would not return. He famously lost a tooth earlier in the season and has dealt with concussions in the past, so it’s better safe than sorry for the All-Star forward.
