Cleveland will have to play Game 7 without Kevin Love, but Boston’s Jayson Tatum came away from Friday night’s collision relatively unscathed. Coach Brad Stevens told reporters that doctors checked on Tatum today and said he’s in “great” condition, tweets ESPN’s Chris Forsberg. Tatum will continue to be monitored up to tomorrow’s game, but right now the team isn’t worried about his availability.
Tatum was defending Love when they bumped heads in the first quarter and said it took him a while to shake off the effects, relays A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston.
“They asked me if I was dizzy, if I had a headache,” said Tatum, who underwent concussion testing on the sidelines. “I’m fine.”
There’s more on the eve of Game 7:
- Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson, who barely played when the postseason began, has helped turn the series around with his defense on Al Horford, notes Adam Himmeslbach of The Boston Globe. Cleveland is outscoring Boston by 3.2 points per 100 possessions when they are on the court together, but the Celtics have a 19.2 edge when Horford plays without Thompson. Boston’s big man was visibly frustrated after Friday’s game, which included a healthy dose of double teaming. “If you were watching the game, I was getting doubled as soon as I caught the ball,” Horford said to reporters. “Every time, I didn’t really have one-on-one position. So they did a good job of really doubling me and making it hard.”
- As bad as the Love injury news was for Cavaliers fans, things could have been worse, relays Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Larry Nance Jr. collided with LeBron James during the fourth quarter on a play that reminded McMenamin of an incident that caused Kevin Durant to miss a significant part of last season. “I just felt someone fall into my leg, and my leg kind of went in,” said James, who was limping when he left the arena. “I felt some pain throughout my entire right side of my ankle into my leg. I was just hoping for the best, obviously, because I’ve seen so many different injuries, and watching basketball with that type of injury, someone fall into one’s leg standing straight up. Luckily, I was able to finish the game.”
- Love’s injury means James will likely have to improve on his already-superhuman effort, writes Justin Verrier of The Ringer. Love is averaging 13.9 points and 10.0 rebounds in the postseason, but he hasn’t been especially effective against the Celtics, Verrier notes. He has a minus-7.4 net rating in the series, worst on the team other than Rodney Hood.
Kevin Love won’t be around to haul down rebounds for you LeBaby tomorrow. No more waiting for Love to cover your defensive assignments while you watch him battling down low while you pad your stats for a easy rebound. Why don’t you try letting Hill run the offense and get off the ball for once? Instead of chasing points and assists.
You definitely have Cheeto dust on and around your mouth.
What’s that supposed to mean?
Dave’s not here, man.
Game 7. On the road. Celtics the better team. With the far better coach. Without Love.
Still give me Bron.
He’s got enough left in his knees to lose to Golden State.
Still like Houston in 7 despite this rigged second half with Houston forgetting how to play basketball. As long as Lebron loses I’m straight.
Second half was simply GS 3’s landing and Harden was exhausted.
If cp3 doesn’t play game 7 it’s already over.
Obviously but Paul will suit up.
I cannot understand all these Lebron haters, to me shows a very very low basketball IQ. The man is the best ever, surely is far better than Jordan, & it has been for a while & it isn’t even close, so why all the criticism, anyway Lebron doesn’t have to win rings to be the best, he does it every night that he suits up.
Hilarious! No way james is better than Jordan, on any day. MJ would never allow his team to lose!