Kevin Love, Dante Exum expected to play tonight against Detroit Pistons

Heading into the first game of a back-to-back against the Detroit Pistons, the Cleveland Cavaliers will be almost at full strength. During this morning’s shootaround, Cleveland head coach J.B. Bickerstaff shared that Kevin Love (sore Achilles) and Dante Exum (sore left hip) will make their regular season debut for the Cavs.

Love, who averaged 17.6 points and 9.8 rebounds last season, will join Cleveland’s starting lineup alongside Darius Garland, Collin Sexton, Isaac Okoro, and Andre Drummond. The former All-Star will have his hands full as he will go up against Detroit’s Blake Griffin tonight. Exum, meanwhile, will slot in as a reserve to both Garland and Sexton and will bolster an already deep Cleveland rotation even further. Expect Damyean Dotson, Dean Wade, and Marques Bolden to get less minutes with Love and Exum returning.

It is unknown at this time if Love and Exum will play the second game of the back-to-back against the Philadelphia 76ers. Kevin Porter Jr. (personal) and Matthew Dellavedova (concussion) remain out for Cleveland.