NBA notebook: Cavs F Love (concussion) out for Game 7 versus Celtics

The All-Star was re-evaluated prior to the decision to hold him out of the
final game of the Eastern Conference finals. The series is tied at three games
apiece.

Love exited Game 6 on Friday night following a head-to-head collision with
Celtics rookie Jayson Tatum during the first quarter. The Cavs announced at
halftime that Love would not return as a precaution as he was being evaluated
for a concussion. Cleveland went on to win 109-99 to even the series at three
games apiece.

Love entered Friday averaging 14.8 points and 10.4 rebounds in this year's
playoffs. He has a history of concussions, including one during the 2016 NBA
Finals against the Golden State Warriors, which caused him to miss Game 3 of
the series.

--The Golden State Warriors, facing elimination entering Game 6 of the Western
Conference finals against Houston, will play without injured forward Andre
Iguodala, coach Steve Kerr revealed.

The club had termed Iguodala as questionable for Game 6 after the veteran had
missed Games 4 and 5 with a bone bruise in his left knee.

Kerr also announced that guard Patrick McCaw will dress and be active for Game
6 but did not guarantee he would play. McCaw hasn't seen action since
suffering a serious spinal injury on March 31.

--Boston coach Brad Stevens took issue with criticism aimed at Celtics big man
Al Horford in the wake of Boston's 109-99 loss at Cleveland in Game 6 of the
Eastern Conference finals Friday night.

In the series-tying defeat, Horford took only two first-half shots and went
scoreless in the first two quarters as the Cavaliers took control of the game
-- primarily in the second quarter. Horford finished with a playoff-low six
points on 2-for-8 shooting in 37 minutes. The 6-foot-10 Horford is averaging
13 points per game against Cleveland after averaging 18.1 ppg in the first
round against Milwaukee and 15.4 ppg against Philadelphia in the second round.

"He was really productive in the first quarter. He was outstanding," Stevens
said in a conference call with reporters. "Every time he touched the ball in
the post, it felt like we scored."

--Field Level Media