Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen exited Wednesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a right knee injury sustained late in the first quarter.
The injury occurred while Allen was setting an off-ball screen just beyond half-court as the Cavaliers were down by 19 points to the Thunder. When Jared McCain attempted to navigate around the screen, the guard’s right knee struck Allen’s right knee, leading to a noticeable jamming motion as he remained stationary on the court:
The veteran player fell to the floor in clear distress, reaching for his right knee. He remained on the ground momentarily while teammate Mario Hezonja secured an offensive rebound, signaling for a substitution by lifting one finger.
After guard Sam Merrill from the Cavs committed a foul to halt play, Allen gradually managed to rise to his feet, walking cautiously towards the locker room. Shortly after, Cleveland declared him doubtful to return to the game due to the right knee injury. When the Cavaliers emerged from halftime, Hezonja stepped into Allen’s position in the starting lineup, joining Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley, and Tyrese Proctor, who replaced the injured Peyton Watson as directed by head coach Kenny Atkinson.
Allen did not make a comeback in Wednesday’s matchup, concluding the game with no points and one rebound over seven minutes of play. After trailing by as many as 25 points, the Cavaliers managed to reduce the deficit to within two possessions multiple times in the final moments. However, they were unable to complete the comeback, as the Thunder secured a 124-116 victory with a standout performance from two-time NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who tallied 42 points and eight assists.
At 28 years old, Allen has occupied the role of starting center for the Cavaliers since his trade acquisition during the 2020-21 season. A former All-Star, his current averages stand at 15.1 points with a shooting percentage of 63.1%, in addition to leading the team with 8.7 rebounds, alongside 1.7 blocks and 1.4 assists in 27.9 minutes per game for the Cavaliers, who now hold a record of 4-4 following this loss.
