Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love and guard Ricky Rubio are out tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to multiple sources. Donovan Mitchell, who was initially tagged as doubtful with a nagging groin injury, has also been ruled out just moments before tip-off.
Rubio is out with knee management, while Love is out with a back injury.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love was added to the team’s injury update with lower back spasms before the team takes on the Houston Rockets on Thursday, according to multiple sources. He was listed as “questionable” along with Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell. However, Love was eventually ruled out just before tip-off.
Love missed his first game since he sat out of matchups against the Sacramento Kings and Oklahoma City Thunder. The five-time All-Star last played for 12 minutes in a game against the New York Knicks, where he grabbed one assist in 12 minutes played.
Rubio last sat out for left knee injury management during a matchup against the Golden State Warriors. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said the team planned to not play Rubio on back-to-back games. The Cavs have not played in a back-to-back series since Dec. 16, when they earned two wins over the Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks by a total of seven points in a two-day weekend series at home, respectively.
The Cavs won their last matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder, earning a 110-102 victory in Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse as the Cavs continued to stagnate between wins and losses. Neither Love nor Donovan Mitchell played on Cleveland’s home court as guard Caris LeVert took Mitchell’s place in the starting lineup.
LeVert scored 12 points, grabbed one rebound and dished five assists in 31 minutes during Thursday’s win over the Houston Rockets, according to Basketball Reference. LeVert has started in four of the last five games for the Cavaliers.
The Cavs will tip off against the Thunder at 8 p.m. EST on Friday in the Paycom Center. The game will be broadcasted on Bally Sports Ohio.
