Kevin Love suited up Monday night for the Cleveland Cavaliers for their game against the New Orleans Pelicans, but he probably shouldn’t have. He looked lethargic for much of the night, Love missed all seven of his 3-point attempts and shot 5-of-19, just 26 percent.
He could not stop vomiting on Sunday, many took to twitter claiming that Love was still hungover from bringing in the New Year or that he simply could not handle Anthony Davis. But Head coach Tyronn Lue revealed that it was much worse.
Ty Lue says Kevin Love ate some bad sea bass on the trip back from CHA, causing him to lose 10 lbs from food poisoning in the last two days
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 3, 2017
The bad sea bass took its toll on Love, and it was a cause for concern with the Cavs already being riddled with injuries this season.
“When I got the call from [Cavs head athletic trainer] Steve [Spiro], he said [Love] had lost 10 pounds and he was throwing up and whatever else I can’t say,” Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue told ESPN.
And after losing 10 pounds in rapid succession in just 48 hours, Love still managed to produce a pretty decent effort scoring 12 points and 11 rebounds in only 24 minutes.
“He came out there and gave us 24 strong minutes, which we needed,” Lue said. “He had 12 and 11 in those 24 minutes, but just his presence on the floor was big for us and for him to gut it out the way he did was big for us.”
Lebron James chimed in on the Cavs and their injuries.
“Can’t have any excuses no matter what’s going on with the team,” James said.
They are already without J.R. Smith who is expected to miss 12-14 weeks due to a thumb injury. And now have Kyrie Irving who is nursing a right hamstring injury and has missed the last 2 games.
James kept it simple.
“Has to be next man up and when guys’ numbers are called they’ve got to be ready to go.”
The Cavs will face the visiting Chicago Bulls tonight at the Quicken Loans Arena.