DALLAS -- Iman Shumpert was giving up 7 inches and 25 pounds to Dirk Nowitzki when the Cleveland Cavaliers' reserve guard found himself matched up on an island defensively with the Dallas Mavericks' surefire Hall of Famer as the clock ticked down in the fourth quarter during a tied game on Tuesday.
As Nowitzki sized him up, using his pivot to position himself just right at the foul line extended to prepare to launch his patented pull-up jumper, so much hung in the balance for these streaking Cavs -- their 16-point comeback, their seven-game unbeaten streak, their perfect road trip up to that point.