Cavaliers will get huge reinforcement for play-in game vs. Hawks

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen will attempt to play in the team’s play-in game against the Atlanta Hawks on Apr. 15.

The Cleveland Cavaliers had the eighth-best record in the Eastern Conference, but they had to participate in the NBA’s Play-In Tournament to clinch a playoff berth. The team faced off against the Brooklyn Nets for the seventh seed, but they fell 115-108. With a must-win game against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, Apr. 15, the Cavaliers could have a key player returning.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Jarrett Allen will attempt to play in the play-in game after being listed as questionable on Cleveland’s injury report. Allen was sidelined since March 6 with a fractured finger.

Cavaliers: Jarrett Allen will attempt to play in Play-In Tournament

The injury occurred during Cleveland’s game against the Toronto Raptors. Since Allen had been sidelined with the fractured finger, the Cavaliers have gone 7-11 to close out the regular season.

Allen was acquired in the blockbuster four-team trade that sent James Harden from the Houston Rockets to the Brooklyn Nets during the 2020-21 season. After the season, the Cavaliers signed Allen to a five-year, $100 million contract.

Prior to the injury, Allen was averaging 16.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks through 56 games, while shooting 67.7-percent from the field. He was named to the All Star Game for the first time of his career this season.

If Allen is deemed good to go, that will certainly help Cleveland’s chances of advancing. But, they do have to face a Hawks team that made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals last year.

Cleveland and Atlanta play on Friday, Apr. 15 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The winner will receive the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference and face the No. 1 Miami Heat in the first-round. The loser’s season will officially end.