"I looked at it as an important opportunity," Love said. "Between Kyrie and myself, we've had many conversations about our playoff run being cut short."
The Cleveland Cavaliers moved Kevin Love to center in their Game 1 but didn't play him like one.
Love had 28 points including 4-for-8 on three-pointers as Andre Drummond was forced to chase him on the perimeter.
Love, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving combined for 81 of the Cavaliers' 106 points.
Both Love and Irving were lost to injury during last year's playoffs.
