The Cavaliers haven’t officially clinched the No. 1 seed, though they’re only one win or Raptors loss away.
Cleveland will just have to do it without Iman Shumpert – and, it sounds like, Mo Williams.
Cavaliers release:Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert will miss the final two games of the regular season after experiencing soreness and inflammation in his left knee that kept him out of Saturday’s game in Chicago. After further evaluation on Sunday, Shumpert had his left knee drained. He will undergo additional treatment and rest over the next several days and is expected to be fully available for the start of playoff practice and preparation later this week. Shumpert will be OUT tonight versus Atlanta and Wednesday versus Detroit.
Cavaliers Guard Mo Williams experienced discomfort and increased soreness in his left knee (chondromalacia) during and following the Cavaliers game in Indianapolis last Wednesday night. He traveled back to Cleveland on Thursday for further evaluation and monitoring. He is traveling today to see Dr. James Andrews in Florida for additional evaluation. His status will be updated following that and he will be OUT tonight versus Atlanta.
The Cavaliers can probably beat the Hawks or Pistons without Shumpert or Williams, and there’s a chance Toronto drops a game, anyway. Heck, even falling to the No. 2 seed wouldn’t doom Cleveland.
But the Cavs need wing depth in the playoffs, and Shumpert would be a big loss. If Shumpert is sidelined, Williams -- who can’t seem to get healthy -- becomes even more important.
Yes, Cleveland says Shumpert will be ready, but it’s always a little uneasy to have a key player suffer an injury this close to the postseason.
