CLEVELAND — Jarrett Allen had never played in a Game 7, and he stated the realization that everything was on the line hit him while driving to the arena Sunday afternoon.
It’s what fueled Allen to shift from his usual quiet and reserved demeanor into a much more vocal and animated version of himself, as his dominant 22-point, 19-rebound performance helped lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 114-102 victory against the Toronto Raptors.
Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson noticed a different Allen during the pregame introductions, watching his center bounce around and enthusiastically hand out high-fives. On Cleveland’s first possession, Allen went for a rim-shattering dunk, and although it bounced out of the rim, it set the tone for the rest of Game 7.
After the score was tied at halftime, Allen put together a relentless third quarter with 14 points, 10 rebounds, including five offensive boards, and a block as Cleveland outscored Toronto 38-19 in the frame to take command of the game.
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“It really took us over the top,” Atkinson stated. “That’s the best I’ve seen him. The offensive rebounding. We needed the inside scoring. We needed someone else to step up besides James [Harden] and Don [Mitchell]. He was just absolutely incredible tonight.”
And in the fourth quarter — after a scuffle between the two sides — Allen yelled toward the Raptors, “Go home.”
“Emotions running high, the crowd’s getting into it,” Allen stated with a laugh after the game. “Switching to a different role.”
Allen stated he began taking on a more vocal role during Game 5, when the Cavs trailed at halftime before rallying to win. Sunday’s game was a continuation of that.
“Just give everything you got,” Allen stated. “All I ask for the guys is just give more. That’s all I ask. Just give one more effort, give one more push, give one more energy that you got.”
The fourth-seeded Cavs advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they will face the top-seeded Pistons. Game 1 is Tuesday night in Detroit.
The Cavaliers gave credit to the Raptors for giving them an early-round test, especially after Cleveland swept the Miami Heat in the first round last year.
Scottie Barnes finished with 24 points and nine rebounds for Toronto, and RJ Barrett scored 23 points in the team’s first playoff appearance since 2022. The Raptors were playing without two starters by the end of the series — Brandon Ingram, who missed the final two games because of a right heel injury, and Immanuel Quickley, who missed the series because of a right hamstring injury.
“It really took us over the top,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson stated of Jarrett Allen. “That’s the best I’ve seen him. The offensive rebounding. We needed the inside scoring. We needed someone else to step up besides James [Harden] and Don [Mitchell].” Jason Miller/Getty ImagesYet, the Raptors still pushed the Cavs to the brink.”This series galvanized us,” Atkinson stated. “Their physicality, their speed, their athleticism — things weren’t perfect. We kind of know the difference. Last year, we kind of had an easier series. These types of series, they build you up. And I’m glad we went through it. It wasn’t fun. But I think it will be a better team coming out of it.”Mitchell finished with 22 points on 9-of-20 shooting, and Harden had 18 points on 3-of-9 shooting.Still, the Cavs won by double digits despite their star backcourt continuing to struggle with their efficiency, which Mitchell took as a sign of growth for the Cavs going forward.”[Harden] and I individually have had big nights,” Mitchell stated. “We’ve had 50-balls, we’ve had bad nights, but at the end of the day, we haven’t won. We’re going to continue to be ourselves, right? But in the same focus, it isn’t just about me and him. It’s [Allen], it’s [Evan Mobley] … It’s everybody in that locker room.”
