CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Cavaliers listed center Jarrett Allen as questionable for Friday night’s Play-In game with the Atlanta Hawks and Allen will try to play according to multiple reports.
Allen fully participated in Thursday’s walk-through style practice according to head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
“We have not ruled anybody out,” Bickerstaff said Thursday. “We haven’t ruled him in either.”
Following Tuesday night’s Play-In loss to the Nets and the upstart Cavs facing a win or go home scenario Friday night is pushing Allen to try to play.
While Allen hasn’t participated in 5-on-5 practice, he has worked against coaches in controlled situations Bickerstaff said.
Allen suffered a broken left middle finger in a win over Toronto March 6 and has been pout since.
Cleveland has gone 7-12 without Allen, who was averaging 16.3 points, 10.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 55 games this season before the injury, in their lineup.
Getting Allen back on the floor would provide more size to their defense to slow dynamic Hawks guard Trae Young, who averaged 32.5 points in four games against Cleveland this season.
While keeping Young in check is priority No. 1 Friday night, winning inside is 1a and Allen returning to the lineup would be key to pulling it off.
“As much as we talk about the 3 and get enamored with the 3, the game’s going to be won or lost in the trenches,” Bickerstaff said. “That’s just not whether or not you’re giving up layups, that’s are you allowing [Clint] Capela to dominate the offensive boards and the job you’re doing on the defensive glass. We still have to do the job to win the paint. If you don’t win the paint, you won’t give yourself a chance to win this game.”
