Jarrett Allen scored a career-high 40 points and collected 17 rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 130\u2013111 on Sunday night, handing Portland its fifth consecutive loss. <\/p>\n
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Sam Merrill added 22 points, including six three-pointers, as Cleveland bounced back from a loss to the Phoenix Suns on Friday that had ended a five-game winning streak. Allen also finished with five assists and four blocks, News.Az<\/a> reports, citing AP<\/a>.<\/p>\n Caleb Love led Portland with 21 points, as the Trail Blazers struggled without their top scorer, Deni Avdija, who missed the game due to a lower back strain.<\/p>\n Portland trailed by as many as 24 points but narrowed the deficit in the fourth quarter, cutting it to 106\u201396 with 7:32 remaining. Cleveland responded by pushing the lead to 118\u2013104 on Merrill\u2019s three-pointer with 4:15 left, prompting fans to head for the exits.<\/p>\n Before the game, Avdija earned his first All-Star selection<\/a> after being named a Western Conference reserve. Cleveland star Donovan Mitchell was selected as a reserve in the Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n With the NBA trade deadline approaching, both teams completed deals ahead of tipoff. Cleveland acquired guards Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder from the Sacramento Kings in a three-team trade that sent forward De\u2019Andre Hunter to Sacramento. The Chicago Bulls received Dario Saric from the Kings along with draft picks as part of the transaction.<\/p>\n Portland acquired forward Vit Krejci from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for injured center Duop Reath and two draft picks.<\/p>\n The Cavaliers built an early 11-point lead, but Love\u2019s three-pointer cut Portland\u2019s deficit to 43\u201341 with just over five minutes remaining in the first half. Cleveland held a 57\u201348 advantage at halftime. In the third quarter, Dean Wade knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to extend the Cavaliers\u2019 lead to 66\u201352.<\/p>\n Trail Blazers guard Blake Wesley appeared in his first game since October after recovering from foot surgery, entering during the opening quarter.<\/p>\n Up next:<\/p>\n The Cavaliers visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n The Trail Blazers host the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n
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