Call Game 2 a Pyrrhic victory.
The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday to even their Eastern Conference semifinals series at one game apiece, but it may have come at a cost moving forward.
Iman Shumpert is at risk of missing Friday's Game 3 due to a strained left groin he suffered in the third quarter Wednesday. The injury appeared to occur on a drive to the basket, when Shumpert got tangled with Mike Dunleavy, with Shumpert telling LeBron James he "heard a pop."
The flat-topped wing was able to return to the game but it may not be as easy to play through without the benefit of adrenaline and warmed-up muscles.
"I'm just going to keep treating it, make sure that I'm in the training room as many hours as I can to get ready fro Game 3," Shumpert said. "It's going to take a lot of doctors to tell me not to play Game 3."
While head coach David Blatt remains hopeful about Shumpert's Game 3 availability, he did admit there's a chance the shooting guard may be forced to sit out.
Losing Shumpert would be a blow to Cleveland's chances of stealing home court back in Chicago, as he's played terrific in the first two games of the series. The midseason acquisition has scored 37 points with eight rebounds and four steals, hitting 8-of-17 from outside to provide an element of spacing that could have been seriously lacking without Kevin Love and J.R. Smith.
Smith is set to return from suspension for Game 3 and could reclaim his place in the starting lineup, but Shumpert would still stand to see upwards of 25 minutes if healthy.
In 38 games after being acquired, Shumpert averaged 10.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and two steals for the Cavs. A capable multi-position defender and adequate ball-handler, he's proven a valuable piece as a part of what's become a thin second unit.
