Power forward Kevin Love is looking to make his return to the Cleveland Cavaliers lineup late next week, setting a potential return date at home against the Phoenix Suns on Mar. 23, according to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com.
Love broke a bone in his left hand on Jan. 30 and has been out since, though the Cavs could use him a game earlier than that, as they play the East-leading Raptors on Mar. 21, which should prove a bar-measuring outing prior to the start of the postseason.
While Love was still non-committal to a set date, late next week was as good an approximation as it gets on his awaited return, especially for a team that has gone 5-5 in their last 10 games, with the Indiana Pacers hoping to carve some more space after taking over the third spot in the East.
Despite all the new additions, the injuries have plagued this team, with Love out for more than a month, Tristan Thompson still out another week with an ankle injury, and rookie Cedi Osman out another two weeks.
The Cavs are merely 10-9 without Love, clearly missing his 3-point shooting and rebounding every game.
He’s yet to develop chemistry with the post-trade-deadline lineup, one which he’ll have to soak in prior to a postseason stint if this team hopes to navigate a torrid shakedown in the East.
“I just want us to get as healthy as we can get so I know and obviously our coaching staff knows and we all know what we can become,” LeBron James said.