With just 2.6 seconds left on the clock, tempers flared as Tristan Thompson clashed with Draymond Green. It was a heated moment that instantly drew comparisons to another playoff incident earlier in the postseason. In Game 4 of the Thunder versus Jazz series, Raymond Felton got into it with Rudy Gobert. Russell Westbrook, who was seated on the bench, jumped up and stormed onto the court to confront Utah players, even making physical contact with Gobert. Surprisingly, the league chose not to issue a suspension, allowing Westbrook to play in Game 5. Fans on Cricket Exchange debated whether this set a precedent that might apply to Kevin Love’s case as well.

Slow-motion replays from the Finals opener clearly showed Love stepping onto the court with both feet during the Thompson-Green altercation. He lingered there for roughly two seconds before an assistant coach quickly pulled him back to the bench, likely preventing further involvement. Even so, the act itself raised questions. By rule, the NBA automatically issues a one-game suspension if a player leaves the bench area and enters the court during an on-court fight. For Cavaliers fans, this was an anxious moment—could they lose another key player at such a crucial stage?

The Cavaliers had already suffered a tough defeat in Game 1, falling 124–114 to the Golden State Warriors. The loss left them trailing 0–1 in the series, but the drama was amplified by controversial officiating in the final minutes. With just over a minute remaining, Kevin Durant drove into the lane and collided with LeBron James. Initially, the baseline referee called an offensive foul on Durant, which could have swung the game. Replay center analyst Steve Javie also believed LeBron had established legal defensive position. However, after review, the officials overturned the call, ruling James for blocking and awarding Durant two critical free throws. For many fans and analysts commenting on Cricket Exchange, that moment felt like a turning point that sapped Cleveland’s momentum.

As if that weren’t enough, the late-game scuffle brought new problems. When Thompson shoved the ball toward Green, benches stirred, and Love’s decision to step onto the court, however brief, became the talking point. Would the league enforce its strict rule and suspend him for Game 2? Or would it apply the same leniency that allowed Westbrook to escape punishment earlier in the playoffs?

Head coach Tyronn Lue and the Cavaliers organization hoped for consistency from the league office. Losing Love, already one of the team’s few reliable scorers after LeBron, would have been a devastating blow. Fans following every development on Cricket Exchange voiced their frustration, pointing out how much the series already hinged on officiating decisions. In the end, the debate over Love’s potential suspension underscored the razor-thin margins of the Finals—where even a momentary step onto the floor can shift the balance of a championship battle.