CLEVELAND -- Cavaliers forward Kevin Love suffered a partially torn ligament in his left thumb during Wednesday night's Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers, sources told ESPN's Brian Windhorst.
Despite the injury, head coach Tyronn Lue said Love will be "ready to go" for Game 3 on Friday in Indianapolis.
X-rays taken after Wednesday's contest came back negative. The Cavs won 100-97 to tie the Eastern Conference first-round series at 1-1.
"I saw a replay too, and it didn't look good," Love said. "Hurt pretty bad. Initially, I told Ty afterward that I could have gone back in, but I think he liked the flow out there, and guys made big plays down the stretch.
"It's not going to feel great tomorrow, but throw some ice on it, tape it up and be ready to go."
Love, defending against the Pacers' Victor Oladipo, was injured when he reached to deflect a pass. The ball appeared to hit his thumb and bend it back. He immediately went to the bench with 3 minutes, 43 seconds left in the game.
Cavaliers medical personnel worked on Love's hand and taped it up. Although Cavs guard George Hill fouled out with 36.3 seconds remaining, Love did not return to the game.
Asked why Love didn't come back in, Lue said he thought the Cavs "had a good flow going."
Love, who missed almost six weeks this season with a broken left hand, finished with 15 points on 5-for-16 shooting and eight rebounds. He had nine points on 3-for-8 shooting and 17 rebounds in Game 1.
"I think in Game 1, every shot was away from the basket, and I didn't even touch the paint," he said. "So I feel like tonight I did a better job of that, had a few go in and out, but a few others go my way, and it's a whole different game for me. I expect that to be different heading forward."
