SACRAMENTO -- Iman Shumpert is starting at shooting guard for the Cavs tonight and Kyle Korver will play more with LeBron James, coach Tyronn Lue said.

Shumpert replaces DeAndre Liggins, who has started every game since Dec. 21 in place of the injured J.R. Smith.

Lue explained the lineup change by saying he "just wanted to do it," though it would seem the move is more complicated than that.

The Cavs have been miserable offensively the last two games -- scoring 92 and 86 points in losses, way under the 109 points per game they average -- and Liggins has been gun shy when it's time to shoot the ball. He's averaging just three shots per game.

Shumpert has served primarily as a backup point guard this season, even though shooting guard is his natural position. He can do what Liggins does -- defend opposing point guards -- but can also score the ball.

Shumpert is averaging nearly seven points per game. This will be his second start this season, which makes one wonder what Lue meant when he said: "That's what he was accustomed to doing.

"He's been trying to come in and help carry the second unit, it's tough on him," Lue said. "So starting, he's always been great, so getting him back in the starting lineup and we know he'll play great."

Later, general manager David Griffin said "Shump obviously gives us a lot of the same defensive presence that Liggs does, but maybe a little more confidence in his own jump shot.

"I think Liggs being a young player, and playing on a team that has expectation of winning all the time - and young is maybe the wrong word, but an inexperienced player - I think he puts an awful lot of pressure on himself right now, and Shump is going to be more comfortable maybe in that moment," Griffin said.

As for Korver, whom the Cavs acquired in a trade last Saturday from Atlanta, Griffin said the coaches discussed starting him and may still in the near future. Korver is averaging two points in his two Cavs games on 2-of-10 shooting, and has barely played with James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.

Tonight, Korver is going to play more with James because James will return to the court with the second unit for the start of the second quarter, when Korver is out there.

"Each game we've got to get better and better," Lue said. "We've got to look for the right combinations after adding Kyle."