Kelly Olynyk Suspended One Game For Foul That Injured Kevin Love

Celtics big man Kelly Olynyk was suspended one game by the NBA on Monday for a foul on Cavaliers forward Kevin Love in Cleveland’s 101-93 win over Boston on Sunday.

Love suffered a dislocated left shoulder on the play as Olynyk clamped down on his left arm while fighting for a rebound. The Cavaliers have ruled Love out of their second-round series, due to the injury.

“I thought it was a bush league play,” Love said of Olynyk’s foul on Sunday. “I mean I was out there and Olynyk was in a compromising position and had no chance to get the ball. It’s just too bad he would go to those lengths to take someone out of a game and do it to someone. I have no doubt in my mind he did it on purpose.”

Olynyk told the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach on Monday he did not mean to intentionally injury Love on the play.

“I think it’s just real unfortunate,” Olynyk said. “If you get tangled up and he doesn’t dislocate his shoulder, there’s nothing dirty ever said or anything. It’s just a foul. So I just really hope he can get back as soon as possible and help that team keep making a push.”

Since the Celtics’ postseason ended with the Game 4 defeat, Olynyk will serve his one-game suspension at the beginning of the 2015-16 regular season.

In addition to the Olynyk penalty, the league also handed Cavs guard J.R. Smith a two-game suspension for his backhanded swing on Celtics’ small forward Jae Crowder in the third quarter of Game 4. Smith was assessed a flagrant-two foul and ejected for the play. He will miss the first two games of the Cavs’ second-round series.

Cleveland center Kendrick Perkins also had his flagrant 1 foul on Crowder in the second quarter bumped up to a flagrant 2 by the league. Perkins was fined $15,000 as well for the hard screen.