Kevin Love injured in loss to Denver Nuggets
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love left Wednesday’s 113-107 loss to the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter after catching an elbow to the head from center JaVale McGee. Love was diagnosed with a mild concussion and neck strain, and is expected to be hospitalized in Denver overnight, according to a report from the Star Tribune:
Denver 7-foot center JaVale McGee inadvertently elbowed Love in the temple as McGee drove to the basket and Love positioned himself to draw a charge.
McGee was called for an offensive foul on the play. Love was laid out flat on his back, remaining mostly motionless for a couple of minutes while team athletic trainer Gregg Farnam attended to him and all of his concerned teammates came to the other end of the floor to stand watch over him.
He was helped to a sitting position, then was helped off the floor very slowly and groggily with less than four minutes remaining Wednesday’s first quarter.
Early word from the team’s locker room only said he sustained a head injury and would not return to the game. A team spokesman later said it was diagnosed as a mild concussion and neck strain. Love was fitted with a neck brace while in the locker room.
The footage:
After struggling in the second quarter without their all-star forward, Minnesota came out hot in the second half. Led by rookie forward Derrick Williams and reserve Anthony Randolph, the Timberwolves outscored the Nuggets 33-21 in the third quarter. Williams finished with 27 while Randolph hit 11 of 16 shots for 28 points, shattering his previous season-high of 18.
Love’s injury is one of many to hit the young Timberwolves squad in the 2011-12 season. Guard Ricky Rubio was lost with a torn ACL on March 9, while Luke Ridnour, J.J. Barea, Nikola Pekovic and Michael Beasley have all missed significant time. Reserve guard Wayne Ellington was also out of Wednesday’s loss with back spasms.
Minnesota fell to 25-34 on the season, while Denver improved to 32-26. The Nuggets currently hold a 1.5 game lead over the Utah Jazz for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.
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