Cavs may not have Irving or Shumpert against Thunder

Shumpert, Irving may

miss tonight’s game

By Jason Lloyd

Akron Beacon Journal

The Cavaliers used their recently concluded road trip to tune up a defense that is now smothering opponents, and just in time for the Oklahoma City Thunder’s only visit to Quicken Loans Arena tonight.

Except the task at hand may have just grown considerably more difficult.

Just as this defense seemed to be hitting its stride, the Cavs might have to learn to juggle again. Iman Shumpert still hasn’t officially been ruled out of tonight’s game against the Thunder, but his right groin injury sustained Tuesday night seemed serious enough that team officials felt afterward it was unlikely Shumpert would be ready.

There was no update on him by midafternoon Wednesday, however, and an emerging thought was it could be this morning at the team’s shootaround before his status is defined.

It seems Kyrie Irving won’t play regardless of Shumpert’s situation.

Irving wrote on his Twitter account Wednesday he will not play after team officials speculated earlier in the week playing against the Thunder was a possibility.

It was always more likely, however, that Irving would make his season debut Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The most frustrating part of Shumpert’s injury is the timing. The Cavs held the Magic and Celtics to an average of 76.5 points on 35 percent shooting in the two victories.

Shumpert played a big role in that, as did center Timofey Mozgov.

“He’s a guy who just fits our DNA so well,” LeBron James said of Shumpert.

“He probably has the best hands in the NBA along with Kawhi Leonard, as far as defensively. His energy level is at an all-time high, he doesn’t go below 100, which is incredible. He brings something fierce, a competitive nature to our team.”