Clik here to view.
Iman Shumpert will start in the New York Knicks' Game 4 against the Indiana Pacers after an MRI revealed no structural damage to his left knee, the team announced. The news allowed the Knicks to let out a sigh of relief after their guard twice on Saturday tweaked a troublesome joint that had undergone surgery to repair a torn ACL just more than a year ago.
Shumpert first hurt his knee on a foul in the third quarter of the Knicks' 82-71 loss to the Pacers, then again when he fell to the deck wrestling a ball from Indiana forward Paul George. Though the second-year pro continued to play, he experienced swelling after the game and hasn't practiced with the team.
Dr. Answorth Allen, the surgeon who operated on Shumpert's ACL last year, was flown to Indianapolis to inspect the knee and took an MRI for Tuesday leading into the 7 p.m. ET tip for Game 4.
The Knicks guard has averaged 9.8 points and 6.8 rebounds in the playoffs and has been especially influential on the defensive side of the ball. With his athleticism appearing to have returned to his pre-injury levels, the news of a potentially-related problem with his repaired knee caused concern. Shumpert said after Game 3 that he didn't believe the injury was related, but the recent history of Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo and how he found out about his ACL likely hung too close for comfort for the Knicks.
More from SB Nation:
• Ziller: Don't blame Kevin Durant
• The Bulls were historically unenjoyable
• Dan on Fire: Did Kobe fake his injury?
