Olynyk Calls Love's Accusation 'Ridiculous'
BOSTON (CBS) -- Kevin Love wasn't very happy with Kelly Olynyk on Sunday afternoon, saying the Celtics forward injured him on a "bush league play" during the Cavaliers Game 4 win in Boston.
But Olynyk said there was nothing malicious about the play, and he had no intent to injure Love as he battled for a rebound in the first quarter.
"That's ridiculous," Olynyk told the Boston Herald on Sunday night. "I would never intentionally hurt Kevin or anyone else. He locked my arm up, I locked up his as we were fighting for a loose ball. You lock up arms all the time in this league."
The play occurred midway through the first quarter, when both Olynyk and Love went for a loose ball. The two locked arms, and Olynyk was whistled for pulling down on Love's arm. Love immediately grabbed his shoulder and sprinted to the Cleveland locker room, where he remained for the rest of the game.
Olynyk tried to reach out to Love on Sunday, but was unsuccessful.
"I wish him a very speedy recovery, and I hope he can come back to help his team in the playoffs," said Olynyk.
ESPN reported Sunday night that Love could miss two to three weeks with a dislocated shoulder.
"I thought it was a bush league play," Love fumed after the game. "Olynyk was in a compromising position, had no chance to get the ball and it's just too bad that he would go to those lengths to take somebody out of the game and do that to someone. I have no doubt in my mind that he did that on purpose."
Love is a free agent this offseason, and many believed that Boston was closing the gap with other destinations on his wish list (IE: the Lakers). However, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports is reporting that this incident with Olynyk may have soured Love on the possibilities of coming to Boston, and may even increase the chances he stays in Cleveland.