Kevin Love was delighted to finally get back to doing what he loves after making his return for the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.  

Love was back on court for the Cavs for the first time since December 27. Initially, it was hoped a right calf injury would only keep him out of action for three to four weeks, but he ended up missing 33 games.  

His comeback was brief due to a restriction on playing time; he contributed four points and a defensive rebound in a 10-minute cameo as Cleveland were beaten 116-82 by the New Orleans Pelicans.  

However, the five-time NBA All-Star was not interested in the box score so much as having the chance to experience playing in a competitive situation. 

"It just felt great to feel like I was playing meaningful basketball again," Love told the media after his return. "[I've had] a lot of time off and just happy more than anything to be out there.   

"I could have shot 0-for-50 and I’d have been fine with it, just playing basketball is what I love to do. 

"It's so much a part of me, so to have it taken away last year, then be super unlucky with the injury, just more than anything I'm really happy to be back out there.  

"It will probably take me a couple of weeks to feel like myself, but I just wanted to get out there and get up and down the floor more than anything."

The Cavaliers won in Love's previous two appearances earlier this season, though the heavy loss to the Pelicans leaves them with a 14-23 record in the Eastern Conference. 

Love - the fifth overall pick in the 2008 draft - hopes he can help improve the team's fortunes, having overcome a psychological barrier following such a lengthy spell out of action. 

"This thing has become more of a mental hurdle, than anything else," he said, having gone one-for-three from beyond the arc.

Asked about how he can make an impact on his team-mates, Love replied: "Being out there with the guys and playing significant minutes, finding a rhythm not just for myself but also being out there and finding a rhythm with them." 

Larry Nance Jr. also returned from a fractured finger for the Cavs, contributing 11 points and four rebounds in his 28 minutes of action.  

Brandon Ingram led the way for the Pelicans with 28 points, while Zion Williamson had 23.