The Cleveland Cavaliers are about to take on the Brooklyn Nets in the play-in tournament on Tuesday, with the winner going on to be the seventh seed in the East and the loser taking on the winner of the 9-10 game.
It’s a complicated process that could present quite a few challenges and lead to the end of the season for either team.
Some fireworks are guaranteed between the two teams.
Sadly, the Cavaliers will be duking it out without one of their key players.
Cavaliers All-Star center Jarrett Allen is out for Play-In Tournament game vs. Nets on Tuesday night. Allen has been rehabbing a fractured left finger that he suffered March 6.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 11, 2022
Center Jarrett Allen is officially out of the play-in tournament game versus the Nets.
The team’s big man has been on the sidelines since March 6, when he injured his left finger.
He was practicing with the team on Sunday so there was hope that he would perhaps be ready to take to the floor on Tuesday.
Unfortunately, that won’t happen and the Cavs will be short one very important player.
Missing Allen
The good news about Allen’s injury is that it’s a structural problem.
That means that all he needs is time for his finger to make a full recovery.
It’s a shame that the injury isn’t healed by now because Allen would be a huge benefit for the team in the play-in.
He’s a defensive unit, catching 10.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks a game.
Additionally, he is also putting up 16.1 points.
Allen rightfully earned a spot in the All-Star Game this year because he’s been such a pivotal part of his team.
The Cavs can win without him and they’ve been getting by without their center since the beginning of March.
But Tuesday’s game matters more than any that’s come before it and the team was hoping and praying they’d have their big man back in time.
NEXT: Jarrett Allen Remains An Unknown For The Cavaliers