Jarrett Allen records six points, two steals

While Allen was able to put up some numbers defensively in Game 4, he offered little else in the 130-93 defeat. After going on an 18-0 run during Game 3, the Knicks blew open Monday’s series finale with a 20-0 run to send Cleveland into the offseason. The franchise can sell the fact of reaching the conference finals for the first time since 2018 as progress, and that would be accurate. However, the way Cleveland was dominated after Game 1 will raise questions. Playing in a lineup that includes Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Evan Mobley limits Allen’s fantasy ceiling. Still, he should once again offer a relatively safe top-75 floor if the Cavaliers decide to run it back with this core.

After a pedestrian 10-point, seven-rebound effort in Game 1, Allen recorded his first double-double since Game 5 of the Detroit series on Thursday. He was also reasonably productive as a defender, recording three defensive contributions. However, Cleveland’s inability to knock down shots eliminated their chances of winning, especially as the Knicks went on an 18-0 run in the third quarter. Allen and the Cavaliers will look to rebound when they host Game 3 on Saturday.

As he did in Cleveland’s first-round series against Toronto, Allen saved his best for last as the Cavs earned their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2018. The Cavaliers’ starting center thoroughly outplayed Jalen Duren, and his stat line lacked only a three-pointer. In the Game 7 win over Toronto in the first round, Allen put up 22 points, 19 rebounds, two steals and three blocks. Things won’t get easier for Allen and the Cavaliers, as they visit the Knicks in Game 1 of the conference finals on Tuesday.

Mobley recorded a complete stat line on Friday, but it wasn’t enough to compensate for Cleveland’s 19 turnovers, which Detroit converted into 25 points. Last season’s Defensive Player of the Year has put up impressive numbers this series, totaling nine steals and 17 blocks through six games. Jarrett Allen (13/8/1/1/1) also recorded solid numbers in Game 6, and the Cavaliers will need more of the same in Sunday’s decisive Game 7 in Detroit.

James Harden wasn’t the only Cavaliers star heavily criticized for his play in the first two games of this series. After a decent showing in Game 1, the Cavaliers forward/center grabbed just one rebound in Game 2. While Mobley didn’t have the best afternoon scoring-wise, he was far more active defensively and on the boards. Jarrett Allen supplied the offense, tallying 18 points along with four rebounds, one assist, one steal and two blocked shots. Cleveland will look to even the series at two games apiece with a win in Game 4 on Monday.

Allen bounced back from an underwhelming two-point performance in Game 1 to tie his high for points in a game this postseason. Per usual, the veteran center did all of his work inside the arc, but also utilized the charity stripe to tally his points. He finished as Cleveland’s second leading scorer on the evening while finishing as the team’s best rebounder in his 31 minutes. The Cavaliers will hope Allen can provide similar individual production in Game 3.

Allen played just 18 minutes in Tuesday’s loss, failing to reach double figures in points or rebounds during his time on the floor. The lack of production was surprising, given his success just two days earlier in Game 7 of the first-round win over the Magic. He finished as the only starter with a positive plus-minus. Still, the Cavaliers will likely need the veteran center to perform at a higher level in Game 2 if they hope to avoid falling behind two games to none.

Allen picked a fantastic time to log his best performance of the postseason. He dominated the offensive glass for putbacks and cleaned up the defensive boards, totaling nearly 20 rebounds. His interior dominance led to many trips to the charity stripe as well, as the Raptors couldn’t match Allen’s activity throughout the game, which is also reflected in the five stocks. Again, Allen was the star of the show on Sunday in Cleveland’s biggest game of the season. He’ll try to take Sunday’s momentum into Game 1 against the Pistons.

While solid in Saturday’s series-opener, Mobley was considerably better in Game 2. He only missed two shot attempts from the field, and the tandem of him and Jarrett Allen (10/3/1/2/3) effectively played Raptors’ starting center Jakob Poeltl off the floor. Cleveland won the first two games by 13 and 10 points, and neither appeared to be that close. Mobley and the Cavaliers will look to take a 3-0 series lead on Thursday in Toronto.

The Cavaliers will be without most of their rotation players for Sunday’s regular-season finale, as their playoff seeding is locked in. The absences in the frontcourt free up opportunities for Nae’Qwan Tomlin, who should have the ultimate green light on Sunday.