NBA Notes: Cavs, Jarrett Allen, injuries, Sixers, Paul George, Magic

Cavaliers

Cleveland finally got a little healthier Friday night. Darius Garland (toe) and Jaylon Tyson (concussion) both returned after missing five games apiece, each on a roughly 30-minute limit.

The good news ends there, though.

The Cavs will still be short-handed Sunday against the Clippers. Jarrett Allen will miss his second straight game with a finger injury, and Craig Porter Jr. has officially been ruled out for the first time this season due to a left hamstring strain, per Law Murray of The Athletic.

Sam Merrill (hand) and Lonzo Ball (knee management) are also out.

Cleveland got a jolt from Garland’s playmaking and Tyson’s energy on Friday — now it’s a matter of surviving this next wave of injuries.

76ers

Paul George continues to ramp up after knee surgery, and his second game back showed why the Sixers were so eager to add him.

George put up 21 points and five boards in 25 minutes Thursday, though Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that his conditioning still isn’t where it will be.

George made it clear he sees part of his job as lightening Tyrese Maxey’s load.

“Whatever it is, to make the game easy for No. 0,” George said. “He’s been doing a lot for us… I’m just trying to make the game easy for him within the offense.”

Even at less than peak conditioning, George gives the Sixers stability at forward. That’s something they’d previously lacked.

Magic

Wendell Carter Jr. isn’t generating headlines, but his impact has been massive.

Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel highlighted how Carter has quietly become one of Orlando’s most reliable two-way pieces, anchoring the Magic with physicality, smart defense and efficient scoring.

Teammate Tristan Da Silva said Carter’s influence doesn’t always show up in the box score.

“Both sides of the floor, he has a huge gravitation,” he said. “Whether that’s rebounding, defensive position… that’s stuff that goes unnoticed.”

Carter is averaging 12.3 points and 7.4 rebounds on .530/.458/.797 shooting, acting as a rock-steady presence for a Magic team trying to climb in the East.