Love to be sidelined after entering health protocols
CLEVELAND — Cavaliers forward Kevin Love has been placed in the NBA’S health and safety protocols and missed Monday’s game at Charlotte — and likely will miss several more.
The Cavaliers provided a brief statement on Love as they got ready to play the finale of a five-game road trip, saying only that “further updates will be provided at the appropriate time.”
The 33-year-old Love is averaging 9.9 points and 7.3 rebounds for Cleveland this season in a reserve role. He played 20 minutes and scored 11 points in the Cavaliers’ loss to the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night.
Love has been with the Cavs since 2014. He has been slowed by injuries and hasn’t played more than 59 game since 2016.
Heat lose Strus to sprained knee
Max Strus expects to be sidelined for maybe just a couple weeks. Given how badly he initially feared his left knee was injured, that’s a major win for the Miami Heat guard.
The Heat diagnosed Strus’ injury as a sprain Monday, learning he did not sustain major structural damage. Strus got hurt in the final minutes at Memphis on Saturday night, landing awkwardly on a play.
He immediately left the game and went to the Heat locker room for further evaluation. There was concern that it was something serious.
“But luckily we’re good,” Strus said Monday. “So, we got good news out of it and we’ll just see where we go from there. I’ll rehab it and get stronger.”
Williamson gets closer to return
The New Orleans Pelicans have been without All-star big man Zion Williamson all season and that doesn’t seem likely to change soon. As he heals up from the broken right foot he suffered in the offseason, there is positive news.
Coach Willie Green told reporters Monday that Williamson had scans done on his foot and he is able to do limited on-court work. He is expected to be out another 2-3 weeks, at which point the Pelicans hope he will be a full participant in practice.
“He is progressing to do on the court work,” Green said. “He’s still not 5-on-5 competitively yet. He’s cutting. He’s doing explosive work. He’s getting closer and closer.”