Love improving, but not yet cleared for Game 4

CLEVELAND — Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue insisted he hasn’t thought about his potential lineup quandary for Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday night.

Love returned to practice Thursday — he had a “great workout,” Lue said — as he tries to recover from the concussion symptoms he experienced after taking a Harrison Barnes elbow to the head in Game 2.

Love missed Game 3 as he went through the NBA’s concussion protocol.

Jefferson replaced Love in the starting lineup for Game 3 and helped the Cavs cruise to a 120-90 victory.

Public sentiment in Cleveland seems to fall with starting Jefferson on Friday night, even if Love is cleared to play.

When we lost a couple games in Toronto, or when we struggled in Games 1 and 2 of this series, it wasn’t all his fault.

Love averaged 11 points and eight rebounds in the series, before leaving Game 2 early in the third quarter.

Warriors players universally agreed with head coach Steve Kerr calling their Game 3 effort “soft.”

The Warriors are counting on their season-long habit of bouncing back after losses.

General manager Bob Myers planned a side trip to Pittsburgh on Thursday to watch Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Sharks and Penguins.