Kevin Love appeared to violate a rule the NBA takes very seriously and it could cost him Game 2
- In the final seconds of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, a minor scuffle broke out between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors.
- Kevin Love was standing on the court, waiting for the final buzzer to sound, then took a few more steps onto the court when the scuffle began.
- The NBA forbids players to leave the bench area during on-court altercations.
- The NBA will likely review the play, but it's possible that Kevin Love could be suspended, as the NBA takes violating the rule very seriously.
As if losing Game 1 of the NBA Finals in gut-wrenching fashion wasn't enough, the Cleveland Cavaliers could potentially be without Kevin Love in Game 2.
In the final seconds of the game, a minor fracas broke out between the Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors after Tristan Thompson was called for a flagrant foul for appearing to hit Shaun Livingston in the face while contesting a shot.
As Draymond Green taunted the upset Thompson, Thompson took the ball and shoved it into Green's face, causing both teams to pile up before Green and Thompson were restrained.
Love wasn't in the game at the moment, but was standing on the court, waiting for the final buzzer to sound when the scuffle broke out. As the two teams shoved one another, Love took a few more steps onto the court before a Cavs assistant coach pulled him back.
Those few steps could have huge implications on the series.
The NBA insists that during any on-court altercation, players on the bench have to remain on the sideline. Following massive brawls - like the "Malice at the Palace" and Carmelo Anthony's fight with the New York Knicks in 2006, when players from both teams ran onto the court and the fights spilled into the crowd - the NBA mandated that any player who leaves the bench during a fight would be suspended.
Love could be seen standing on the court after Thompson was called for the foul.
Later, after Thompson pushed Green, Love took another step out onto the court. He was pulled away moments later.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on "SportsCenter" after the game that it was a matter the league would have to review. Windhorst noted that the rule is a bit of a gray area as it states players can't leave the bench "area." Because Love was already on the court, and because the NBA hasn't had many serious incidents with players leaving the bench recently, the league could give Love a pass.
Nonetheless, if the NBA wants to make a statement and make sure tensions don't escalate between the two teams, they might suspend Love for stepping onto the court.
The Cavaliers already have a huge emotional hurdle to overcome after unraveling in the final seconds of Game 1. To come back in Game 2 without Love would make the task that much harder.
More NBA Finals coverage:
- J.R. Smith had a perplexing explanation for his end-of-game blunder that cost the Cavs in Game 1 of the Finals
- Tyronn Lue and the NBA world are baffled by the controversial foul change on LeBron James in Game 1 of the Finals
- LeBron James and the Cavs hit the Warriors with their best shot and had a chance to flip the Finals on its head - and still lost in gut-wrenching fashion
- This photo of a very upset LeBron James sums up the brutal way the Cleveland Cavaliers blew the win in the final seconds
- A frustrated LeBron James cut his NBA Finals press conference off, told media to 'be better tomorrow,' after repeated questions about JR Smith's blunder