Iman Shumpert says he’ll play Game 4 despite shoulder injury

Iman Shumpert crashed into Draymond Green’s screen in Game 3, left the court area and returned about a quarter later.

“I don’t know a lot of guys that come back in the game,” David Blatt said postgame.

The Cavaliers coach added Shumpert was in pain and would undergo further examination.

Blatt today, via ASAP Sports:

Good news on Shump’s shoulder. He had an MRI, he was examined and evaluated by our medical staff. He has a bruised shoulder and it’s painful, but fortunately no serious damage, and that’s really, really good news.

Shumpert, via ASAP Sports:

I mean, it would take a lot for me not to play. It’s going to take a lot of people to tell me not to go. It’s going to take some structural damage for me to do that. If I’m able to push through it, I’ll push through it.

Generally, the Cavaliers can’t afford to lose any more depth. They’re already using an extremely short rotation, which could help the Warriors as this series progresses.

More specifically, Shumpert could be pivotal in Golden State’s defense of Stephen Curry.

Matthew Dellavedova has done an excellent job on the MVP, and if that continues, great. Dellavedova can stick on Curry for nearly the entire game. But I’m still not convinced that’s sustainable, especially as Curry appeared to find his rhythm late in Game 3.

Shumpert seemed to be the Cavaliers’ best chance on Curry entering the series, and they could still turn to him more often for that job – at least if he’s healthy enough.