2 min read • March 08, 2022
Posted in
Cavaliers' starting center and 1st-time all-star Jarrett Allen was diagnosed with a fractured finger in his left hand after Sunday night's win over the Raptors.
The extent of the fracture have yet to be released, but it appears to be a fractured middle finger, likely his metacarpal, on his left hand, as confirmed by the team in a press release on Monday.
While he is listed by the team as out indefinitely, he should be expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks with the injury and be able to return at the beginning of Cleveland's playoff run the second week in April, according to our ProBasketballDocs.
Based on limited video found by Josh Poloha of WFNY Cleveland, the 23-year-old appears to suffer the fracture when he left hand hit the rim on a block with 3:58 left in the first quarter.
His left hand slams upwards towards the rim while he was attempting to balance himself on the way down from the block.
Allen stayed in the game for another 2 minutes before suffering a left quad contusion that kept him out for the rest of the game. Later tests revealed the fractured finger, which cameras caught him looking at in the tunnel after his exit.
The Cavaliers' are loaded with size in the frontcourt, and will turn to rookie Evan Mobley for more minutes at center. The 20-year-old 7-footer scored 20 points with 17 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks in Sunday's win and is averaging 14.6 points with 8.2 rebounds in 56 games this season.
Small forward Lauri Markkanen can slide into the power forward slot, leaving Dean Wade or Caris LeVert to start at the 3. Veteran Kevin Love can also start at power forward, leaving Markkanen to retain his normal spot.
Cleveland is 37-27 and sitting at the No. 6 seed in the East, narrowly avoiding the play-in tournament, but will have to finish the season without Allen, and while fellow all-star Darius Garland manages a nagging back injury that will keep him off the floor from time-to-time.
Written by
