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The Cleveland Cavaliers made a big splash in acquiring Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis on Saturday night. Just one day later, they had their center Jarrett Allen posting the best scoring game of his NBA career.
Coming off a game where they had their five-game winning streak snapped by the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland as a collective looked a whole lot better. Allen himself, surpassed his old career-high of 33 points before the third quarter was even up.
The Fro had not scored more than 17 points in any of the team’s previous nine games, so a breakout like this was just what the doctor ordered.
On a night when everything is working, well, everything is indeed working. Let’s talk about how Allen got it done and delivered when his Cavs team needed it most.
Career Night for Jarrett Allen
When Cleveland needed a hero, he was there. Jarrett Allen showed up in a major way, having the most impressive game of his NBA career against the Portland Trail Blazers. Breaking his career-high in scoring during the third quarter, he also blocked four shots. He was active on the glass.
In Evan Mobley’s absence, Allen was able to put together a performance his team needed every bit of to get their victory. The first 40-point game of his career, a night that is going to be absolutely remembered. His name has been floating in potential trades as the team continues to try and shed salary.
Of course, he is under contract for the long-term, so that would be a team decision. This kind of game though, makes a team want to take what they have and hold on to it for as long as possible. Allen will turn 28 this year, and still has a lot of basketball left to be played in his career.
This is a guy that has been in Cleveland since the 2020-21 campaign, coming through time and time again.
The absence of Mobley has allowed Allen to really take control down low, and a night like this is one that is going to be discussed for the rest of the year.
40 points. 16 rebounds. Five assists. Four blocks. He did absolutely everything on both sides of the ball, and will be looking to build off this one as the road trip rolls along.
Jarrett Allen Secures Cavaliers Future with Dominant Performance
There have been a lot of talks about Jarrett Allen possibly being moved across social media. Not only this year, but previously, as the double-bigs experiment has been discussed. Floor spacing and the team possibly being at its best when Evan Mobley was at the five instead.
Donovan Mitchell scored just 12 of Cleveland’s 130 points. He took a back-seat to what Allen was doing out there. Sam Merrill contributed 22 big points on 6-8 from 3PT. Jaylon Tyson added 18 of his own, knocking down all four three-point attempts.
All of the role players looked like stars for a Cavs team that is now 6-1 in their past seven games. Not having two All-Stars in the lineup in Darius Garland and Mobley, they have not missed a beat.
Every last discussion tonight will point to what their starting center is capable of. It’s not the first time Allen has eclipsed the 30-point mark on the season, but of course it is his first 40-ball.
This is not a player getting traded. This is the starting center for a contender.
Zach Weiss Zach Weiss is a sports reporter covering the NBA for Heavy. He also hosts a podcast about the Cleveland Cavaliers, “Across the Cavs,” and serves as a sports broadcaster for various institutions in the Greater NYC Area. He wrote for Knup Sports for six years. More about Zach Weiss
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