Cavaliers All-Star forward Kevin Love, who injured his left thumb late in Wednesday's first-round playoff game against the Pacers, is expected to play in Friday's Game 3, coach Tyronn Lue told reporters Friday morning.
Love suffered a partially torn ligament in the thumb in Game 2, ESPN.com reported, citing unidentified sources.
X-rays afterward were negative, and Lue tersely declared Love would be "ready to go Game 3" in Indianapolis. The series is tied at 1-1, in part, LeBron James said Friday, because "(t)hey've got some really good players on their floor."
Love had 15 points and six rebounds in the Cleveland's' 100-97 Game 2 victory.
He was injured trying to deflect a pass with 3:43 to play in a game the Cavs won, 100-97, to tie the Eastern Conference first-round series at 1-1. The Cavs medical team worked on Love's left hand, taping it, but he didn't return.
"I saw a replay, too, and it didn't look good," Love said after Wednesday's game. "Hurt pretty bad. Initially, I told Ty afterward that I could have gone back in, but I think he liked the flow out there, and guys made big plays down the stretch.
"It's not going to feel great (Thursday), but throw some ice on it, tape it up and be ready to go."
Love missed six weeks earlier this season with a broken left hand.
