CLEVELAND – Kevin Love won’t be able to help the Cleveland Cavaliers down the stretch this season.
The All-Star forward will miss at least six weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Tuesday, a blow to the defending NBA champions as they try to lock up the top seed in the Eastern Conference and home-court advantage in the playoffs.
Love, who is having his best season with Cleveland, had a “loose body” removed from his knee by orthopedic surgeon David Altchek in New York, the Cavs said. Altchek surgically repaired Love’s shoulder during the 2015 playoffs.
The Cavs said Love will be sidelined approximately six weeks, which would have him returning by April 1. The playoffs start later that month.
“It’s just our road, every season one of our key guys gets hurt,” LeBron James said. “This year has probably been the worst out of all years, having our starting 2 guard out for so long and then having our All-Star power forward out for an extended period of time. Just next man up. We just hope for a healthy and speedy recovery for our All-Star.”
CHARLES OAKLEY is allowed back in Madison Square Garden, though the former New York forward said he wants an apology before he would return.
The MSG chairman, James Dolan, banned Oakley last week, two days after Oakley had an altercation with security guards while attending a game and was arrested. The sides reconciled, helped by a meeting Monday with Commissioner Adam Silver, with Hall of Famer Michael Jordan participating by phone. Jordan and Oakley were teammates in Chicago before Oakley was traded to New York, where he became a fan favorite with the Knicks from 1988-98.
MAGIC-RAPTORS: Toronto and Orlando finalized a trade that sends Serge Ibaka to the Raptors for Terrence Ross and a 2017 first-round pick.
Orlando General Manager Rob Hennigan said the trade of Ibaka for Ross was necessary for the Magic in hopes of salvaging a season that has gone drastically off course.
Tuesday’s games
CAVALIERS 116, TIMBERWOLVES 108: LeBron James finished with 25 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds to lead Cleveland to a victory at Minneapolis.
Channing Frye had 21 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland, Kyre Irving added 25 points and James sealed the victory with a stepback 3-pointer with two minutes to play.
BULLS 105, RAPTORS 94: Doug McDermott scored 20 points, Jimmy Butler had 19 points and 12 assists, and Chicago won at home to continue its mastery over Toronto.
Taj Gibson had 14 points and Rajon Rondo added 12 to help the Bulls beat the Raptors for the 11th straight time. Toronto’s last win in the series was Dec. 31, 2013.
Kyle Lowry scored 22 points to lead the Raptors, who lost their third straight.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
