PORTLAND, Ore. — Any lingering questions about Jarrett Allen’s importance?
Just in case, Allen sent a reminder Sunday night.
Allen’s fingerprints were all over Cleveland’s 130-111 bounce-back win over the Portland Trail Blazers. The Cavs are now 30-21 on the season.
“I’ve seen him play a lot. This is the best I’ve ever seen him play,” said Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson who was with Allen at the beginning of his career in Brooklyn. “It was surreal. From the tip, he completely dominated.”
Playing the second game of this lengthy West Coast road trip, Allen started his two-way superiority early.
In the first quarter, Allen poured in 16 points — a season-high in any quarter and just three off a career-best. By the end of the half, he had already recorded a double-double, tallying 25 points and 10 rebounds — the highest scoring opening half of his career. His previous high was 22 vs. the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 6, 2022.
Then, at the 3:54 mark of the third quarter, Allen flipped in a left-handed bank shot that solidified the most special night of his career.
It got even better.
Allen ran the floor. Was heavily involved on the offensive end. Active on the boards. A deterrent on defense. Everything that makes him a vital — even though often overlooked — member of Cleveland’s Core Four.
With Evan Mobley still nursing a calf strain, Darius Garland out with a nagging toe injury, De’Andre Hunter shipped to Sacramento in a trade a day earlier and leading scorer Donovan Mitchell drawing so much defensive attention, Allen was called on to do even more than usual.
He answered.
“Kenny asked me to step up,” Allen explained. “Guys are out. I always pride myself on being there when [the team] needs me. When you have guys like Evan, Donovan and Darius, I fall into the fourth or fifth option, which I’m fine with. But when you need me, I’m here to score, however many you need.”
Even in the face of Allen’s forceful onslaught, the pesky Blazers cut Cleveland’s one-time 24-point lead to 10 with 7:32 left in the fourth quarter.
The building was coming alive. The Blazers had a strut in their step. A comeback was within reach.
Following a timeout, Atkinson stuck with his planned substitution pattern, choosing to get Mitchell a brief respite.
How would Cleveland survive? Where would it turn?
Allen, of course.
On the first possession out of the stoppage, Allen called his own number, rumbled into the lane, drew a foul and earned a pair of free throws that halted a 7-0 run. Two possessions later, he scored — again — on a soaring putback dunk to push the Cleveland advantage back to 17.
With 3:43 left in the game, Allen hit two freebies that caused Cleveland’s bench to erupt and the Blazers faithful to hit the exits.
Forty points.
Everyone recognized the moment. Players knew how special this performance was — and wanted Allen to punctuate it by reaching the hallowed mark.
“First quarter I felt like I was going to have a special game,” Allen said. “Then it kept rolling for me. I wanted to keep it going. My game is predicated on other people creating for me and we were able to create shots all game.”
Allen finished with a career-high 40 on 16 of 23 shooting to go with 17 rebounds, five assists, four blocks and two steals in a little less than 30 impactful minutes.
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He is the first Cavalier ever to have at least 40 points and 15 rebounds in a regular season game. He is the first player in NBA history with 40-15-5 in under 30 minutes.
“When he’s involved, when he’s touching the ball, you just get a different J.A.,” Atkinson explained. “We kept feeding him. And then he took a lot on his own shoulders. His energy was just off the charts. His aggressiveness was off the charts. Someone told me it’s because he was in Portland and likes artsy cities. Maybe that was it.”
Sam Merrill added 22 points, going 7 of 9 from the field and 6 of 8 from beyond the arc.
Jaylon Tyson (18 points), Mitchell (14), Nae’Qwan Tomlin (12) and Thomas Bryant (10) also contributed double figures.
The Cavs shot 54.9% overall and 47.1% from deep. They dished out 41 assists on 50 made shots.
“We’re super skilled,” Atkinson said. “That’s not saying it arrogantly. It was really beautiful basketball tonight.”
Portland, playing without first-time All-Star Deni Avdija (back) and Jrue Holiday, was led by Caleb Love who had 21 points off the bench. Shaedon Sharpe chipped in with 20.
Shortly before tipoff, in an effort to hype up the Moda Center crowd, the Blazers PA Announcer excitedly said, “A storm is coming.”
Turns out, there was.
A fierce Cavalanche named Jarrett.
Up next
The Cavs will continue their five-game road trip with a matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night. Tipoff is set for 10:30 p.m.