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Cavaliers' DeAndre Liggins: To start in place of Smith vs. Knicks

Liggins will start at shooting guard Wednesday against the Knicks, replacing the injured J.R. Smith (knee), the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Analysis:

Smith hyperextended his left knee in Monday's win over Toronto, and while an MRI cleared him of any structural damage, he could still miss a game or two beyond Wednesday with the Cavaliers not looking to take any chances. With Smith out Wednesday, Liggins will move into the lineup at shooting guard, marking just the second start of his NBA career. In Monday's game, Liggins played 21 minutes off the bench -- his second-highest total of the season -- and scored five points to go with five rebounds and an assist. Coach Tyronn Lue opted to go with the defensive-minded Liggins over veteran Iman Shumpert, likely in an effort to preserve the Cavaliers' bench rotation, as Shumpert has been serving as the team's de facto backup point guard.

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