Sad News: Jarrett Allen Declean Unwanted For InVo…
The injuries just won’t stop coming for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Just when they got back Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, another crucial member of the team exited their game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Jarrett Allen appeared to roll his ankle in the third quarter of Cleveland’s win on Wednesday evening. He hobbled down the court and asked out of the game at the next dead ball.
J.B. Bickerstaff said that Allen went through his normal pregame workout and the expectation was that he’d play. JA will be available for the Cavs and is in their starting lineup as they match up with the Spurs in San Antonio.
He was listed as questionable leading up to the game with a left ankle sprain and was seen participating at the team’s shootaround early Saturday morning.
Allen has been playing at an All-Star level over the last six weeks. In January, he averaged 17.2 points, 13.3 rebounds, helped the Cavs go on an eight-game win streak, and set a franchise record with 17 straight double-doubles. Unfortunately, that streak came to an end in Memphis.
One of JA’s best games of the month came against the Spurs, who the Cavs are set to go up against. He scored 29 points, shot 57% (11-19) from the floor, grabbed 16 rebounds, and welcomed Victor Wembanyama to the NBA with a disrespectful block.
Here’s another update for those who are interested in Garland and Mobley’s current injury status. Both players will appear against the Spurs. However, they remain on a restriction of about 20-25 minutes a game.
For the first time in forever, the Cleveland Cavaliers were fully healthy and playing their preferred starting five of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen on Wednesday against the Detroit Pistons. While it was only the 12th time the unit had shared the floor together, it didn’t continue after Cleveland’s 128-121 win over Detroit.
Granted, most of that involved monitoring and managing Mobley’s recovery after knee surgery. But after Jarrett Allen suffered a gnarly ankle sprain against the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday, the future of the preferred starting lineup playing together any time soon is somewhat murky.
Heading into their road matchup against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, Allen is listed as questionable and will likely be a game-time decision for the Cavs. Thankfully, Allen was spotted participating during Cleveland’s morning shootaround at Frost Bank Center. But it depends on how Allen and his ankle feel leading up to tip-off against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. If Allen cannot go, look for Dean Wade to join the starting lineup and Mobley to slide over to the starting center position.
If Allen can go, it’ll be the 13th time this season the Cavs can roll with their ideal starting lineup. Garland (jaw) and Mobley (knee) are available for Cleveland while Donovan Mitchell and Max Strus remain upright and steady. While it would be a shame not to have Allen out there alongside the rest of the available Cavs, thankfully, the team has a relatively clean bill of health, with Ty Jerome (ankle) being the only player sidelined for medical reasons. Otherwise, the only other players unavailable for Cleveland are Emoni Bates (G League assignment), Isaiah Mobley (G League assignment) and Tristan Thompson (suspension).
On San Antonio’s side of things, meanwhile, the Spurs will be without several key players after falling to Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans in buzzer-beating fashion on Friday. Heading into this second game of a back-to-back against the Cavs, San Antonio will be without Charles Bassey (ACL), Sidy Cissoko (G League assignment), Mamadi Diakite (G League assignment) and David Duke Jr. (G Leauge assignment). Dominick Barlow (G League assignment), Zach Collins (ankle and Keldon Johnson (elbow laceration) will be game-time decisions.