DETROIT -- All-Star forward Kevin Love has suffered a fracture in his left hand, the Cleveland Cavaliers announced Wednesday.
Love will likely miss six to eight weeks with the injury, sources told ESPN's Brian Windhorst.
The injury occurred in the first quarter of the Cavs' 125-114 loss to the Pistons on Tuesday.
"It's just unfortunate for our team,'' Cavs forward LeBron James said after the game. "Obviously with everything [that's] been going on as of late with our ballclub, just trying to figure out how we're going to play every night, different lineups and getting everybody into the flow, we don't need to have Kev go out like that. He's going to be out for quite a while -- maybe two months -- so it's just tough.''
The team said Love received X-rays at the arena that revealed a non-displaced fracture in the fifth metacarpal. He underwent additional examination Wednesday in Cleveland.
"Love and the Cavaliers medical team are currently in the process of reviewing options regarding the treatment of the injury," the Cavs said in a news release. "This includes additional consultation with specialists at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City in collaboration with the Cavaliers medical team and the Cleveland Clinic.
"Love's treatment plan and the estimate on his return to play will be established following this review and a course of action is solidified. His status will be updated accordingly."
After seeing his coaches and teammates at halftime, Love got in a car for the 2½-hour drive to Cleveland from Detroit, rather than fly and have the hand be subject to air cabin pressure.
"Down. Down," Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said when asked about Love's spirits. "It's just part of the game. You hate to see anyone get injured at any point in time of the season, and now we've got to rally the troops, and we've got to have his back until he gets back."
A few minutes after tipoff, Love grabbed his hand and bent over in pain after making contact with Detroit's Anthony Tolliver under the basket. Love tried to play through a couple of more possessions before the injury became apparent.
He subbed out with 7:19 remaining in the first quarter and went to the locker room, accompanied by head athletic trainer Steve Spiro.
Love is Cleveland's leading rebounder (9.4 per game) and second-leading scorer (17.9 points per game).
"He's a big part of this team, and it's gotta be the next-guy-up mentality. As a group, you've gotta bring what Kevin does. Not just one guy's gonna bring what he does, 'cause he's a special, All-Star-caliber player," Cavaliers point guard Isaiah Thomas said.
Love underwent surgery on the same hand in October 2009. That procedure required three screws to be inserted.
Last season, Love underwent minor knee surgery on Feb. 14, causing him to miss the All-Star Game five days later. Love was selected as a reserve for this year's All-Star Game, which will be played Feb. 18 in Los Angeles.
Lue started Jae Crowder in Love's place to begin the second half but would not commit to a static first unit of Crowder, James, Thomas, Tristan Thompson and JR Smith in Love's absence.
"It might be one of these things now where it depends on who we're playing and the matchup," Lue said. "Probably be on a matchup basis. We'll just see going forward."
Cleveland (29-20) hosts the Miami Heat on the second night of a back-to-back Wednesday. Miami is 10-4 in January and just a half-game back of the Cavs for the No. 3 spot in the East.
"When it rains, it pours," Lue said.