BOSTON — Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love left Sunday’s playoff game against the Boston Celtics with an apparent left shoulder injury suffered in the first quarter.
ESPN reported Love suffered a dislocated left shoulder.
Love, who scored the first basket of game, was chasing a long rebound with Boston forward Kelly Olynyk, whose right arm locked around Love’s left. A foul was called on Olynyk and Love grabbed his shoulder and ran off the court and straight to the locker room at the opposite corner of the court.
Love left with his team leading 19-10 with 5:22 left in the first quarter.
Love, who had an injury-plagued career, was averaging 18.3 points, nine rebounds and three assists per game in the first three games of the first-round Eastern Conference series — all wins for the Cavaliers.
Love, acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves last offseason, has an option on his contract for next season.