Live Thread: Cavs @ Timberwolves (#Loveless)

Is there a sadder way to spend Valentine’s Day than without Love? Well, that’s the predicament the Cavs and their fans find themselves in tonight as they close out this year’s holiday with the knowledge that they’ll be missing Love (Kevin that is) for about six weeks as he recovers from knee surgery. The painful irony doesn’t stop there either, as the destination the Cavs will be spending this normally romantic evening is the same place that Kev called home for the first six years of his NBA career. You can bet Love would have enjoyed firing threes like Cupid’s arrows from deep in the Target Center in Minneapolis, or showing his heart and desire pulling down rebounds like so many valentines from the admirers he probably still has amongst the Minnesota faithful.

Probably the most heart-breaking thing for Kevin himself, is that he won’t be able to take part in the All Star Game this weekend, after working hard to put together his best season to date in a Cavs uniform. And, while it’s certainly a tough break for both him and the team… it’s not the end of the world (though the angsty, love-stricken teenager in all of us might be tempted to feel that way). No, the Cavs’ hearts will go on… and they’ll pick themselves up, and carry on to try and take down the young Wolves on their home court where they’ve been close to .500 this year (14-17).

Minnesota has had some misery of their own recently, having lost Zach Lavine for the year with an ACL tear, and forward Adreian Payne indefinitely to illness. Yet, despite a sub-par record, they do feature two young stars of the game in Andrew Wiggins and Karl Anthony Towns. Wiggins, who was spurned by the Cavs for Love to start his career, always seems to get up for the team that drafted him. He scored 23 points against the Cavs a couple weeks ago in Cleveland, and is averaging 22.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Towns is averaging 23.7 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, and also had a big showing against the Cavs with 26 points and 12 boards.

The Cavs do get some good news tonight, as Iman Shumpert returns to action, and is reportedly not on a minutes restriction for the game. This should help cover at least some of the minutes lost with Love out. In Love’s place, Channing Frye will get the start.

Cavs probable starting lineup: LeBron James, Channing Frye, Tristan Thompson, DeAndre Liggins, Kyrie Irving.

Timberwolves probable starting lineup: Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns, Brandon Rush, Ricky Rubio, Gorgui Dieng.

Catch all of the heart pounding action starting at 8pm (EST) on NBATV, and write your love letters in the space below…

Prediction: Despite their lost Love, the Cavs lift their spirits and break a lot of hearts in Minnesota while pulling out a 123-118 victory.