1 stud and 1 dud for Cavs in gutsy win at Hornets on Friday

Cavs stud: Jarrett Allen

This go-round, I have to highlight Jarrett Allen as an individual standout here, as he had a double-double in the first half, and ended up with a monster performance.

The Fro was on a mission after being a notable All-Star snub (we’ll see if he is an injury replacement), and Allen ended up with an overall statline of a career-best 29 points and season-high 22 rebounds. He was outstanding from the jump, as he had 13 points in the first quarter, and even after banging knee-to-knee with Gordon Hayward in the second quarter, Allen eventually returned, and picked up right where he left off.

As we noted, he eventually ended up with 29 points, which led the Cavaliers. He was on-point off-ball as a cutter and in getting position for seals, leading to in-rhythm finishes with touch, and his authority inside gave the Cavaliers momentum throughout the contest.

The intensity Allen brought for extended stretches was huge for this Cavs team, that was again without Garland and Markkanen, and whether or not Allen does end up being an All-Star replacement, this game was very encouraging for what’s to come. Even after he banged knees with Hayward, he was playing with a great sense of urgency, and threw down two jams on Mason Plumlee, too.

I also thought Allen’s defensive activity in contesting shots inside, forcing tough shots from drivers when needed, and his defensive rebounding was crucial. He was impactful in that way throughout the game as well, as he has been so often this year.