Cavs C Jarrett Allen to play vs. Hawks 'barring setback'

The hope is that Cavaliers big man Jarrett Allen will be on the court for Friday's win-or-go-home showdown with the Hawks. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Cavaliers All-Star C Jarrett Allen to play vs. Hawks 'barring setback'

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 4/15/22

It appears that the Cleveland Cavaliers will finally get All-Star big man Jarrett Allen back on the court on Friday night, and it couldn't come at a more crucial time in their season.

Major return: Cavaliers All-Star Jarrett Allen (fractured finger) will play tonight vs. Hawks in elimination Play-In Tournament game, barring setback in warmups, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 15, 2022

Allen fractured his finger during an early-March victory over the Toronto Raptors and hasn't played since. It was reported on Thursday that Allen considered himself "50-50" for the Cavaliers' must-win contest on Friday.

The winner of the Atlanta-Cleveland tilt will become the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and advance to face the top-seeded Miami Heat in the first round.

The 23-year-old Allen averaged career highs in points (16.1) and rebounds per game (10.9), while posting a career-best 67.7% field goal percentage in 55 contests this season.

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