Cleveland Cavaliers could have their starting center back for the elimination game vs the Atlanta Hawk. According to Sham Charania, Jarrett Allen will be ready to compete barring any setback in the pre-game workouts.
Allen missed the last 19 games of the Cavaliers due to a fractured finger. He was also out for the contest vs the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday. He was considered a 50-50 chance for Friday’s game vs Atlanta.
Major return: Cavaliers All-Star Jarrett Allen (fractured finger) will play tonight vs. Hawks in elimination Play-In Tournament game, barring setback in warmups, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 15, 2022
Allen has been an important part for the Cavs, who made a suprising run in the regular season, before their year be derailed by an enormous number of injuries. They ended up with the 8th seed winning just three of their last 11 games of the season.
He was named an All-Star for the first time in his career, forming a formidable duo with rookie big Evan Mobley inside the paint. Allen averaged career highs in points (16.1) and rebounds (10.9), while posting a career-best 67.7% from the field.
The Atlanta Hawks will have their share of game-time decision to make with guard/forward Bogdan Bogdanovic. Bogdanovic missed the Hawks Play-In Tournament victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday with an ankle injury.
According to Hawks’ head coach Nate McMillan (h/t to Chris Kirschner of the Athletic), he should be ok ahead of the Friday matchup. Bogdanovic played in 63 games and averaged 15.1 points, 3.1 assists, 1.1 steals and a career-high 4.0 rebounds this season, while posting a 43/36/84 shooting splits.
The winner of the Atlanta-Cleveland tilt will become the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and advance to face the top-seeded Miami Heat in the first round.
Bogdan Bogdanovic is a game-time decision, Nate McMillan said. Bogdanovic did go through shootaround. McMillan said “he should be ok” — Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) April 15, 2022
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