Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Love Played 10 Pounds Lighter Against New Orleans

Michael Jordan once had a legendary 1997 NBA Finals performance in the midst of battling the flu. Last night, you may have noticed Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love looked a bit frail against New Orleans—the three-time all-star was 10 pounds lighter due to a bout with food poisoning.

Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue told reporters after his team’s 90-82 victory over the Pelicans that Love became sick after eating sea bass on New Year’s Eve when traveling back to Cleveland with the team. Love’s diagnosis, according to team doctors, was food poisoning, and it’s evident because of his 10 pound weight loss in just two days.

Believe it or not, Kevin Love suited up and played 24 minutes in the Cavaliers win on Monday night. Though it was an ugly shooting night, Love managed to haul in 11 rebounds finishing 5/19 from the field and 0/7 from deep with 12 points. Love left the game midway through the 4th quarter.

“We didn’t think he was going to be able to play (Monday),” Lue said, via Cleveland.com. “He said he’s going to give it a go. He came out there and gave us 24 strong minutes, which we needed. He had 12 and 11 in those 24 minutes but just his presence on the floor was big for us and for him to gut it out the way he did was big for us.”

Kevin Love is averaging 22.2 points and 10.9 rebounds per game for Cleveland this season; he is projected to be named an all-star in 2017. Love is listed “questionable” for the Cavaliers’ matchup with the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.