CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love had plenty of good moments in his return to the court following a nearly two-month long stint on the sideline because of a broken bone in his left hand, but there was an awkward one in the second half.
Love caught a pass in the left corner of the floor and fired up a three-pointer that was altered by Milwaukee Bucks center John Henson. After the shot, Love took an awkward fall as his left foot slipped out from underneath him. Then, as the Bucks ran in transition up the floor, Love appeared to backstroke his way up the sideline.
Why did Kevin Love try to swim on the court? pic.twitter.com/UzSw5ERl8z
In his first action since suffering the break in a January 28th game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesar’s Arena, Love scored 18 points, pulled down seven rebounds, handed out four assists and blocked two shots over 25 minutes in the win.
Love knocked down five of his 13 shots, including a four-for-nine showing from three-point range, and hit all of his attempts from the free-throw line.
Love got the start at center and did not score over the first five-plus minutes of action, but at the 6:27 mark, he caught a pass from small forward LeBron James on the right wing, and then, pulled up for and buried the three-pointer.
IT'S SO GOOD TO BE BACK!
Kevin Love from deep in the Q! #AllForOne@cavs 🏀 ➡️ https://t.co/ym9jQIwqUR pic.twitter.com/0QZs2AjagX
Late in the first half, Love caught fire from three-point range and hit back-to-back three-pointers that expanded Cleveland’s lead over Milwaukee to seven points.
Off of an inbounds pass from James, Love pulled up just to the right of the top of the key and swished a three-pointer.
Then, after getting a defensive rebound and outletting the ball to James, Love served as a trailer in the transition set down the floor. James flipped a pass to Love and watched as the returning big man knocked down the second of two consecutive threes.
Two straight triples for Love! 🔥🔥
Kevin has 11 1st half PTS in his return to the floor.#AllForOne pic.twitter.com/GBYSasPZH9