J.R. Smith to return from suspension in Game 3 for Cavaliers
CHICAGO -- J.R. Smith will return to the Cleveland Cavaliers after a two-game suspension, andIman Shumpert will be in the starting lineup for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Chicago Bulls on Friday night.
"Watching the games at home, knowing the camaraderie we have before and after games and not being on the floor, it was by far the lowest point," Smith said Friday of his two-game suspension for striking Boston's Jae Crowder in the face in the first round of the playoffs. "I felt I let the team down. We were already short-handed with Kevin [Love] out. To miss two games where I could've helped, it was tough."
Smith arrived at the United Center at approximately 8:30 a.m. Friday morning to get in extra shooting with LeBron James before the team's 9:30 a.m. shootaround. The best-of-seven series is tied at a game apiece.
Smith has been trying to get in extra work the entire time he has been sidelined -- 12 days in all since Game 4 against the Celtics -- in order to stay in game shape.
"It'll be good," Smith said of his conditioning. "One of our assistant coaches had me on the court like a lab rat for the last week. Should be all right."
Shumpert, the surprise star in the series for the Cavaliers thus far, was a game-time decision after straining his left groin in the third quarter of Game 2. The fourth-year guard is averaging 17.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals in the Cavs' past three playoff games while shooting 9-for-19 (47.3 percent) from 3-point range.
"I'm going to do whatever I can to get on the court," Shumpert said before the shootaround.
Coach David Blatt said Shumpert's playing time will depend on how he feels during the warm-up and throughout the game.
Smith said he had yet to be informed by Blattwhether he would be returning to his place in the starting lineup. He had started every game for the Cavs since being acquired in a trade from the New York Knicks in early January.
"I'm not putting too much pressure on him," James said. "We're just happy to have another body out there, a guy like him who can make shots for us, defend. We've been short-handed as of late, so to have another guy out there is going to be great for our team."
Smith said there was "no better feeling" than returning to the court.
"Being able to go out there and play playoff basketball with your teammates and a great team is something I definitely don't take for granted, especially after missing the last two games," Smith said. "This is a great team, we have great camaraderie, we have all the keys, it's just a matter of putting them altogether one step at a time."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
