CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Shortly before boarding the team plane Friday afternoon, ready for their first stop on this two-game road trip, the Cleveland Cavaliers learned Kevin Love's fate.
The All-Star would be sidelined at least six weeks -- and maybe even longer -- following successful surgery on his left foot to relieve troublesome pain that's lingered since the first preseason game on Oct. 2.
That leaves a gaping hole at power forward, one Sam Dekker will occupy for the foreseeable future. It also means the struggling Cavaliers will be without their leading scorer and offensive focal point during a stretch when they are trying to recover from a hideous start to this season and are in desperate need of some stability.