Cavs lose Love to injury
LOVE BREAKS HAND IN LOSS TO DETROIT
Aloss to short-handed Detroit was hardly the biggest concern for LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cleveland’s recent rough stretch went from bad to worse Tuesday night when Kevin Love exited with a broken left hand in a 125-114 loss to the Pistons. The Cavaliers said he had a nondisplaced fracture in his fifth metacarpal and his status would be updated after additional examination today in Cleveland.
“It’s just unfortunate for our team,” James said. “Obviously with everything (that’s) been going on as of late with our ballclub, just trying to figure out how we’re going to play every night, different lineups, and getting everybody into the flow, we don’t need to have Kev go out like that. He’s going to be out for quite a while — maybe two months — so it’s just tough.”
The Cavs have lost 11 of 16, and the injury will likely affect the defending Eastern Conference champions’ plans as the Feb. 8 trading deadline approaches. They may have to make a significant move to replace Love.
“When it rains, it pours,” coach Tyronn Lue said.
Andre Drummond had 21 points and 22 rebounds for the Pistons, who snapped an eight-game losing streak despite a lineup that was depleted by their blockbuster trade for Blake Griffin. Detroit dealt three players to the Los Angeles Clippers to get Griffin, and neither he nor the other two players the Pistons received in return were available against Cleveland. Drummond — whose own status was in question because of an illness — had a huge game, and Stanley Johnson added a career-high 26 points.
Reggie Bullock added 22 points for the Pistons, and Anthony Tolliver scored 20.
“I needed that, and everyone in the room needed that,” Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy said. “When you’ve lost eight in a row, all you care about is getting to the end of a game with more points than the other team. It doesn’t matter how.”
James scored 21 points for the Cavs, but Cleveland was listless early and outplayed late — and the result felt secondary to Love’s health.
Love played only 4:41 and went scoreless.