CLEVELAND — Just before Friday night's game against the New Orleans Pelicans, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff announced that both Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr. will return to the court after recovering from their respective injuries.
Love has not played since December when he suffered a calf strain. He was able to practice with the team on Thursday and was cleared to play Friday evening.
Bickerstaff said that Love will have a limited role in his return as the team eases him into his return, but will have starting minutes on Friday.
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— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) March 13, 2021
After fracturing his finger during a game on Feb. 6 and undergoing surgery to address the injury, Nance will also return to the court for the team’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans Friday night.
Nance was expected to miss six weeks with the hand injury, but only missed 12 games.
On Thursday, Nance was able to practice with the team and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said that he expected him to be “ready to go” for Friday night's game.
Before tip off Friday, Bickerstaff said that he was looking forward to having Love and Nance back out with the rest of the guys.
"I'm interested in seeing what we look like as a whole team," Bickerstaff said.
While he's been ruled out for Friday's game, Darius Garland is also ramping up to return after suffering a groin injury on March 3, the team’s last game before the All-Star break.
The Cavs tip off against the Pelicans Friday at 8 p.m. in the Big Easy.
