As the Cleveland Cavaliers enter into the deciding Game 7 against Orlando Magic, the former will be looking to seize the game, having the playoff series tied at 3-3. However, the ride does not seem to be going smoothly for the Cavs, as an NBA insider has revealed that center Jarrett Allen will be out of the team for today’s match. The 26-year-old center is facing complications with ribs and can’t be able to contribute further to his team after Franz Wagner’s deadly hit.

Allen suffered the rib injury against the Magic in Game 1, which got worse with another hit in Game 4 of the playoff series. After this, he could not afford to stand on the court for his team. However, the last game that he played left the fans praising him as the Cavs’ center scored 21 points and 9 rebounds in 29 minutes that he played on the court. Besides Allen, his teammate and Cavs’ guard Craig Porter will also not play in Game -7 due to a left ankle sprain.

According to the Athletic, Allen is suffering from “excruciating” pain after two hits to his ribs. At the last moment, when the deciding games are knocking on the door, the Cavs have fallen short of luck. Nonetheless, Allen was playing in great condition before the injury as he played for 81 games straight, including the regular season and playoffs. Overall, he averaged 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in this regular season. It is a career-high record that Allen managed with his consistent play during the whole regular season.

Will The Cavaliers be Able To Survive Without Jarrett Allen?

In the absence of Jarrett Allen, the Cavs looked completely out of gas, including their star player Donovan Mitchell. However, Cleveland has got the upper hand in playing on the home court for Game 7 in Ohio. Considering this year’s NBA playoffs, the homecourt advantage is definitely a thing for the playing teams. Both the Magic and the Cavs have won 3-3 games at home, so the balance might shift in Donovan Mitchell’s squad if they continue their natural play.

In the absence of a rim protector like Jarrett Allen, it is crucial for coach J.B. Bickerstaff to utilize his bench strength. However, these players on the sidelines have not delivered well in the first round of playoffs. The supporting cast for the Cavs has just averaged 18 points through six games against the Orlando Magic. The most important one to look for is Caris LeVert, who has averaged just 6.2 points in the series, eight less than his regular season average.

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Overall, it will be a do-or-die situation for the Cavs as they have been looking for redemption since their first-round elimination against the Knicks last year. If Donovan Mitchell and Co. do not manage to take away the final game against the Magic, the summer trade equations, as well as Mitchell’s decisions regarding extensions, might change.