Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen has been upgraded to questionable on the official injury report and will try to play in Friday’s home play-in game vs. the Hawks, per multiple reports.
Allen has been out since March 6, when he suffered a broken finger. He is still experiencing “significant” pain in the finger, but considers himself “50-50” to play on Friday, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
“We haven’t ruled anybody out,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said prior to the release of the official injury report. “Haven’t ruled him in either.”
Meanwhile, coach Nate McMillan said the Hawks are preparing for the game as if Allen will play. “He said even if he doesn’t play, the Cavs’ size still presents a challenge for Atlanta,” relayed Chris Kirchner of The Athletic.
Whoever wins the play-in game between the Cavs and Hawks will be the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. The loser will be eliminated from the postseason.
Either will face the top-seeded Heat in the first round, with Game 1 slated for Easter Sunday at 1 p.m. EST.
Allen, 23, is coming off his first All-Star appearance and averaging 16.1 points and 10.8 rebounds in 56 games. His biggest impact is on the defensive end, anchoring the Cavs’ triple tower frontcourt that also includes Rookie of the Year candidate Evan Mobley and Lauri Markkanen.
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