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11/02/2024 02:26:33 pm

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Cavs Sweep Celtics in First Round of Playoffs But Uncertain Of Love And Smith Moving Forward

Kevin Love

(Photo : Reuters) 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.

As was generally expected, the superstar team of the Cleveland Cavaliers completed a sweep of the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs (101-93).

With 20 seconds left on the clock, Lebron James opted to just dribble away the time as players around him hugged, signifying the end of the series. The last ticks of the clock seemed to be the calmest one despite the physical play of the game that has left two players with potentially serious injuries in Kevin Love and Kelly Olynyk.

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Moving forward, the Cavaliers now wonder if Love's injured shoulder will be good to go for the next round of the playoffs.

With the calm and contentment of a sweep, Love was the only one who has visibly angry when he left the game midway through the first quarter with a dislocated left shoulder. The injury came when Love and Olynyk had arms entangled when going for the loose ball.

Love called it a move from the "bush league" and said that Olynyk did it intentionally. Love immediately grabbed his shoulder and ran to the locker room.

Brad Stevens, Head coach of the Celtics, defended Olynyk against the intentional allegations though, saying that it was not in his personality to hurt a player.

Perspective differs in the eyes of the beholder though. James, who scored 27 points throughout the contest, said that he had seen a lot of types in his day, but saw that particular one as different.

The physical play did not stop with Love and Olynyk though.

Later on, Jae Crowder of the Celtics was shoved by Kendrick Perkins. Both drew technical fouls.

J.R. Smith would get in on the action, knocking down Crowder while scrambling for a rebound and spraining his knee in the process.

With the Cavs' loss of Love, another blow was struck with the possibility of Smith being suspended for the second round of the playoffs as well.

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