Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen exited Wednesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder after suffering a right knee injury late in the first quarter. The injury occurred while Allen was setting an off-ball screen just past half-court, with the Cavaliers trailing the visiting Thunder by 19 points. As Thunder guard Jared McCain attempted to navigate around the screen, his right knee collided with Allen’s right knee, which appeared to become jammed as Allen remained planted on the floor.
The 11-year NBA veteran fell to the ground clearly in pain, clutching his right knee. He stayed on the court for a brief moment while teammate Mario Hezonja scored an offensive put-back, then signaled for a substitution with one finger raised.
Following a foul by Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill to pause play, Allen slowly stood up and cautiously made his way to the locker room. The team soon announced that he was unlikely to return due to the knee injury.
Allen, 28, has been the Cavaliers’ starting center since being acquired in a trade midway through the 2020-21 season. A former All-Star, he is currently averaging 15.1 points on 63.1% shooting, alongside team-leading averages of 8.7 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 1.4 assists in 27.9 minutes per game. The Cavs held a 4-3 record before Wednesday’s game, positioned in a tie for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Fan Take: This injury is a significant blow to the Cavaliers, as Allen is a key defensive and offensive presence in the paint. For basketball fans, his health matters greatly because it could impact Cleveland’s playoff chances and alter the dynamic of competition in the Eastern Conference moving forward.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
