CLEVELAND _ Kevin Love said he knew he would return to the Cavaliers before the team's six-week projection following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Valentine's Day.
His optimism was rewarded Thursday when he stepped back onto the court a month and two days later.
Although playing on a minutes restriction, Love was in the starting lineup against the Utah Jazz at Quicken Loans Arena.
"He felt great in the few practices we had, in a couple three-on-threes," Lue said. "It's a good sign for us."
Kyle Korver sat out his fifth consecutive game with a sore tendon in his left foot, but Lue said Korver was "very close" to returning. J.R. Smith will remain with the second unit until Korver comes back. Lue said he was not concerned that Korver's injury could be a problem long term.
Derrick Williams also sat out with a right quad contusion.
Lue said for now he doesn't expect Love to play back-to-back nights, but that may not dampen Love's spirits.
"I'm 28 years old, I feel like I'm just coming into the league again because I'm so antsy to get back," Love said Wednesday after practice.
Lue said he won't feature Love in the first quarter as he did before Love's surgery because he doesn't want to put that kind of pressure on him right away. But Lue knows what the Cavs were missing without Love.
In 46 games this season, Love averaged 20 points, 11.1 rebounds in 31.9 minutes per game.
"His defensive rebounding for one," Lue said. "The second thing is, just when we get those leads and we're getting jump-shot happy, we're able to throw the ball into the post and slow the game down. Either he's going to score or get to the free-throw line. That's what was good for us before.
"When LeBron [James] goes out of the game, him and Kyrie [Irving] are kind of working that two-man game. That's what we missed the most, just slowing the game down, posting the basketball and either him scoring or getting to the free-throw line."
Lue doesn't expect Love to be in All-Star form immediately.
"Anytime you come off an injury, and just mentally I think it's going to take him some time to know that he can do the things he's capable of doing," Lue said. "Also just timing wise, conditioning wise, it's going to take him a little time. We're going to be patient ... but we're happy he's there."
