Kevin Love is supposed to be one of Cleveland Cavaliers’ leaders, which is why his behavior is unacceptable: Chris Fedor

TAMPA, Fla. — With 33.3 seconds remaining in the third quarter of a two-possession game, following Malachi Flynn’s driving layup, Kevin Love got bumped into the stanchion and glared at referee Courtney Kirkland. Then Love … well … only he knows exactly what he did — and why.

Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who has known Love since their early days together in Minnesota, slowly lowered his mask, shouted something in Love’s general direction and looked on in disbelief. Assistant coach Antonio Lang was flabbergasted, raising both palms and peering toward other coaches, wanting to make sure they saw the same. Brodric Thomas, an undrafted rookie free agent and one of two players waiting to receive the inbounds pass, couldn’t believe it either.

This wasn’t a brain cramp from a young player who got confused or doesn’t know any better. This wasn’t the kind of careless mistake that keeps plaguing an inexperienced team late in games. This was a temper tantrum. Another one in the growing the lowlight reel of the Cavaliers’ supposed leader. It was childish. Disrespectful. Selfish. Unprofessional. Uncouth. An awful example for his young, impressionable teammates. And it erased a gutsy effort from an undermanned roster playing on the second game of a back-to-back.

“That was unacceptable,” a source texted cleveland.com.

That ridiculous sequence ended with a backbreaking 3-pointer and nine-point Toronto lead. The Raptors added one more bucket, pushing ahead by 11 going into the fourth quarter. Game over. In 45.2 seconds, thanks to Love’s outburst, the Cavs went from down four to trailing by 11. Love didn’t play the rest of the game. He exited for the locker room before the final buzzer.

“You’ll have to ask Kevin,” Bickerstaff said when asked what Love was doing at the end of the quarter. “We talked about it. He apologized to his teammates for it and we’ll move on.”

Maybe another day. Love didn’t speak to reporters after the 112-96 loss.

“I didn’t see it,” said Darius Garland, the closest player to the pass. “I was trying to get my defender off me. It’s probably on social media, so when I get on the bus I’m probably (going to) look. Something like that happens, we just have to get on to the next play. That was just a little breakdown that he had, it was nothing serious. He got whacked on one end and he got whacked on the defensive end and they didn’t call it. He just got frustrated, that was it.”

OK, fine. Love was frustrated. It happens. Basketball is emotional. He’s human. Who isn’t frustrated at this point in the season?

A high-grade calf strain kept Love from being part of the team’s early success, forced to helplessly watch the most optimistic stretch since re-signing in 2018 following LeBron James’ departure. Then, after his long-awaited return, the Cavs started to crumble. They are 4-12 since Love came back, entered the night losers of five of the last six and two straight. He hasn’t experienced much winning. It’s been one mental hurdle after the other, only adding to his dissatisfaction. It probably doesn’t help being at the end of a road trip — and playing out the string on another lottery-bound season that started well and sparked dreams of a Play-In spot.

Following one of the games last season, another time when Love let his frustration show, he told cleveland.com it was a “mindf—” being in this arduous rebuild following four straight years of chasing titles. Rebuilds aren’t easy. Not everyone can handle them emotionally. Love doesn’t seem happy. Even Bickerstaff, who is clearly on board with the plan, looks worn down.

But no excuses. Love needs to be better. He wanted this responsibility. He signed up for it, inking a $120 million extension. He must recognize his impact. Even if the anger comes from a good place — wanting the Cavs to play the right way, not tolerating defensive breakdowns or selfish offense — there are innumerable better ways to get that point across. If he’s mad at the officials for missing a few calls, one of which caused his knee to bleed, let them hear it. But slapping the ball in play and standing there defiantly while the opponent cans an open 3-pointer isn’t leadership.

The Cavs can’t afford that from any vet, especially Love. Over the past few weeks, it’s become clear how much teammates look up to him. In many ways, he’s a tone-setting champion, the guy expected to show them the way. Garland beams when discussing Love’s impact. He repeatedly calls him a Hall-of-Famer. Collin Sexton and Isaac Okoro have made glowing remarks as well. Jarrett Allen just turned 23 and he’s around Love daily.

What are they supposed to think when seeing a miserable teammate essentially give up? If Love doesn’t care, why should they? At some point, won’t his behavior start to have a negative effect? Are the Cavs there already, with him becoming a hinderance to what they’re trying to build from a culture and accountability standpoint?

That’s precisely why Monday’s third-quarter meltdown is so concerning — and why the Cavs, from the top down, need to do something about it. Fine. Suspension. Summer buyout.

“He had a lapse in judgment,” Bickerstaff said. “He’s been great for us from a leadership standpoint this whole year, even through his difficulties and the injuries we’ve been battling, so we’ll leave it at that.”

Everyone is frustrated. But only one player can’t keep it together. Monday wasn’t his first outburst either. Remember the multiple instances last season? Stomping toward Sexton, demanding the ball and angrily tossing it at Cedi Osman’s feet — a play that led to an apology and admission from Love that he needed to be more mature. Punching the bench in Toronto, which led to a fine — something he didn’t agreed with and caused a verbal dispute with management. Checking out of an early-season matchup against Philadelphia and disengaging from everyone.

These disturbing viral videos are becoming part of his legacy.

Monday could’ve been about how well Love played on the second game of a back-to-back, fighting alongside his teammates and stuffing the stat sheet, showing the positive impact he can still make. It could’ve been about Okoro’s career night, scoring 20 points and attacking the rim with ferocious ambidextrous finishes. It could’ve been about Garland taking another step in his evolution, finding a way to succeed when his shot isn’t falling. About a team missing seven players, with so much working against them once more, not laying down.

Nope. All footnotes. Love made sure of that. At least, he didn’t fire the ball at his teammate this time.

New Cavs face masks for sale: Here’s where you can buy Cleveland Cavaliers-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All NBA proceeds donated to charity.

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