Cleveland Cavaliers vs New York Knicks October 25, 2016

Cavaliers guard DeAndre Liggins, shown driving against New York Knicks guard Brandon Jennings this season, will start tonight in New York.

(Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com)

NEW YORK -- Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said DeAndre Liggins would start at shooting guard for the injured J.R. Smith tonight against the New York Knicks.

Liggins, 28, has one previous career start, as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2012-13. He's played in 68 NBA games, and is averaging 2.3 points in 11 appearances this season.

Smith is out for tonight's game and likely a few more after suffering a hyperextension of the left knee Monday in Toronto. Lue said he's starting Liggins because of the energy he brings on defense.

"I think high energy from a guy, it's contagious," Lue said. "Guys tend to play harder, seeing him flying around the floor, picking up full court, that's the juice and spunk we need."

Liggins scored five points in 21 minutes against the Raptors.

Iman Shumpert, a former Knick who was originally acquired to be the starter at shooting guard, will come off the bench and likely fill Lue's backup point guard spot.

As for Smith, Lue said the diagnosis was "great news." He talked with Smith Tuesday and said "he feels normal, that's a good sign.

"It was great to come out of it, the way he reacted and the way he fell, I thought he was going to be out for a long time, so, that's good for us," Lue said.