Cavaliers’ Love to miss semifinals

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

The Cavaliers will move forward in the NBA playoffs without Kevin Love and with their title hopes shaken.

Cleveland’s starting forward has been ruled out for the team’s next playoff series — and perhaps longer — after dislocating his left shoulder in Sunday’s win to sweep the Boston Celtics.

Love, playing in his first postseason as a pro, got hurt when he got tangled with Celtics forward Kelly Olynyk while chasing a loose ball in the first quarter. Olynyk clamped down on Love’s arm and pulled so hard it popped out of the shoulder joint. Love had an MRI and other tests performed Monday and the team said he sustained a dislocation with torn ligaments and labrum.

It’s a potentially devastating blow to the Cavs, who are likely to face Chicago in the second round. The Bulls lead the Milwaukee Bucks 3-1 in their best-of-seven series entering Monday night’s Game 5.

The Cavs said Love will obtain more medical opinions. There is a possibility Love could need surgery, which would end his postseason.

Cleveland acquired Love last summer in a blockbuster trade, teaming one of the game’s best stretch forwards with All-Stars LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, giving the Cavs a “Big 3” capable of ending the city’s championship drought dating to 1964.

The Cavs also will begin their Eastern Conference semifinal series without starting guard J.R. Smith, suspended for two games without pay after committing a flagrant 2 foul, prompting his ejection from Game 4 on Sunday. Smith swung backward with a clenched fist and smacked Boston’s Jae Crowder in the jaw, dropping the Celtics guard, who sprained a ligament in his left knee.

The league also suspended Olynyk for his move on Love, which looked more like an MMA hold than an NBA box-out. Olynyk will have to sit out the first 2015-16 regular-season game he is able to play.

Before learning the severity of Love’s injury, James, a two-time champion who has been to four straight Finals, said the Cavs would have to overcome any adversity in their way.

“It’s next man up, depending on what goes on with our team. That’s two big pieces, obviously, but next man up,” he said. “No excuses.”