Cleveland Cavaliers big man Kevin Love and Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala are both in doubt for game one of the NBA Finals on Friday.
Love remains in the NBA's concussion protocol, and his status is uncertain, while Iguodala continues to search for ways to return from a leg injury.
Kevin Love.
Photo: AP
Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue told reporters Tuesday before the team flew to Oakland that he was "not sure" if Love would be able to play.
Love missed almost all of game six and sat out game seven of the Eastern Conference finals following a head-to-head collision with Boston Celtics rookie Jayson Tatum in the first quarter on Saturday.
Love was re-evaluated Sunday before the decision to hold him out of Monday's game seven, though he traveled with the team to Boston and attended the game.
Advertisement
Jeff Green started in Love's place and totaled 19 points and eight rebounds in game seven.
Love, 29, is averaging 13.9 points and 10.0 rebounds per game in the post-season.
Three years ago, he missed the entirety of the Cavaliers' NBA Finals series with the Warriors due to a separated shoulder. Golden State won in six games.
Meanwhile, Iguodala was missing for the final four games of the Western Conference finals as the Warriors outlasted the Houston Rockets on Tuesday in the finale of a seven-game series.
Andre Iguodala.
Photo: AP
Head coach Steve Kerr said the injury, originally described as a bone bruise, had no defined timetable for recovery and is typically a matter of an individual's pain threshold.
"He's frustrated," Kerr said. "His body has not responded at this point."
Without Iguodala, the Warriors are squeezing more minutes out of Jordan Bell and Kevon Looney. Bell, in particular, is helping the Warriors defensively and bringing energy at both ends of the court, Kerr said Monday.
"We're thrilled with the way he's played," Kerr said.
Iguodala received a second opinion on the injury, which the Warriors are now classifying as a lateral (left) leg contusion. He was injured in game three of the series with the Rockets when he bumped knees with Houston Rockets guard James Harden.
Iguodala, the MVP of the 2015 Finals, and Klay Thompson shared the responsibility of defending LeBron James in the 2017 meeting between the teams. Golden State won the series last year four games to one.
According to ESPN, Iguodala is actively seeking any remedy to the knee discomfort, but will be questionable for game one of the NBA Finals on Friday at Oracle Arena in Oakland.
Field Level Media
Most Viewed in Sport
Morning & Afternoon Newsletter
Delivered Mon–Fri.
