Apr 26, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) injures his shoulder during the first half in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics. at TD Garden. Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love underwent season-ending surgery Wednesday to repair a dislocated left shoulder, the team announced.
The timetable for Love’s return is four to six months. The 2015-16 season is to start in exactly six months.
The operation was performed by New York Mets medical director David Altchek, and Love is expected to rehab in Cleveland under the guidance of Cavaliers team doctor Richard D. Parker.
Love was hurt Sunday when he became entangled with Boston Celtics forward Kelly Olynyk in Game 4 of Cleveland’s first-round series sweep. Love was initially projected to miss two to three weeks, but a second opinion revealed significant damage to the shoulder.
Love, who was in his first season with the Cavaliers after an offseason trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves, can become a free agent in July. He was playing in his first-ever playoff series.
Olynyk denied intent to injure Love.
Love, 26, averaged 16.4 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 75 regular-season games for Cleveland. During the previous six seasons for Minnesota, he averaged 19.2 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
The Cavaliers are the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. They await the winner of the Milwaukee Bucks-Chicago Bulls series currently led 3-2 by Chicago entering Game 6 on Thursday.
Cleveland will play host to Milwaukee or Chicago in Game 1 on Monday.
