Dribbles: Cavs Get Lift From Jarrett Allen, Javonte Green To Block Bulls For 11th Straight Win

March 4, 2025

Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ 139-117 road win over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday. …

1. If you didn’t watch, you may have thought it was a blowout. Well, it was. But only in the final five minutes or so.

2. Before that, this was nip and tuck and bite your fingernails. This one featured seven ties and a whopping nine lead changes — and that was just through the first three quarters.

3. Then came the Cavalanche to close the game. Jarrett Allen. Javonte Green. Lots of both. Yes, Green received his first meaningful minutes of the season. And man oh man, did that man deliver.

4. With seven minutes left, the game was tied at 107-all. Next thing you know, Allen scored two baskets, one off the fast break. Then Green hit a 3-pointer. Then Green hit a basket in the key. Then Darius Garland hit a three. Meanwhile, the Bulls couldn’t score.

5. Ballgame. And the 11th straight win for the Cavaliers, who improved their NBA-best record to 51-10.

6. All that and we probably haven’t even mentioned the biggest star. Or at least the guy who was tied with Allen as the biggest star. That would be none other than Donovan Mitchell. He is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer against the Bulls. Yet again, we got an example as to why.

7. Mitchell finished with a game-high 28 points. He scored 16 in the third. He was particularly glorious on free throws, sinking 13-of-14. Basically, the only way the Bulls can stop Mitchell is to foul him, and now that doesn’t even seem to work.

8. Allen was equally brilliant in erupting for 25 points and 17 massive rebounds. He refused to be denied when it came to getting the ball off the glass. It’s a good thing, as the Cavs sat Evan Mobley for the purpose of rest.

9. Allen probably could use a break, too. But don’t count on it. He’s played in all 61. He wants to play in all 82. So coach Kenny Atkinson may not be able to talk him into a rest game.

10. Allen did say Mitchell told him to get a 20-20 (20 points, 20 rebounds) with Mobley out. But Allen was a couple of boards short. “Sorry, Don,” Allen told Fan Duel Sports Network, wearing his typical wide smile.

11. By the way, did I mention that the Cavs trailed by 15 points in the first half? Yeah, it’s hard to believe. In their last three games, they’ve trailed by 22, 18 and 15 in the first 24 minutes — and won them all. Two were on the road. One was against the defending champs. Is there anything this team cannot do?

12. So, what of the comebacks? “It shows the character of this team,” Allen said. “Everybody’s congratulating everybody.”

13. As for this game in particular, Allen did indeed use the word “Cavalanche” to describe that final flurry. “It was a good old-fashioned trademark turn,” he said.

14. Atkinson on the comebacks: “We have to be careful. This league’s too hard. Great fourth quarter, but through the first three we were sleepwalking. Jarrett Allen woke us up.”

15. OK, now for Green. Cavaliers fans got to see that this guy might be 31 years old, but he’s a high-flyer and energy type. He loves to mix it up underneath. “Javonte’s a smart player,” Atkinson said. “He feels the game. He can pass. Great pickup by us.”

16. As usual, everyone had their moments. Garland finished with 19 points and seven assists. Ty Jerome brought some serious energy on his way to 16 points, including 9-of-9 foul shooting. Green, Max Strus and Sam Merrill added 11 apiece. De’Andre Hunter, Dean Wade and Isaac Okoro scrapped defensively.

17. Coby White led the Bulls (24-38) with 25 points. Talen Horton-Tucker added 22. Those two just go to the basket with speed (White) and force (THT) and dare you to try to stop them.

18. Chicago was down Nikola Vucevic, Josh Giddey and Lonzo Ball. They’re in play-in territory, but you can’t help but wonder if the front office would prefer to tank and play the NBA Draft lottery.

19. Meanwhile, Garland has really struggled with his shot over the last two games. He went 4-of-16 vs. the Trail Blazers and just 7-of-22 in this one. No biggie. He’ll get it going again. And he’s still making them when they count, drilling back-to-back threes at the end of the first half. That cut Chicago’s lead to 58-57 at halftime.

20. After the win, the Cavs hopped on a plane and flew back home. They have another one Wednesday night, with the up-and-down Miami Heat in town. Atkinson would love to see them not trail by double-digits again in the first half. But even if the Cavaliers do … well, it doesn’t seem to be much of an issue.