Jarrett Allen probable to return against the Miami Heat
The Cavs are expecting to get their starting center back after missing nearly a month.
CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 3: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers run on to the court before the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 3, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen is expected to make his return to the starting lineup, per head coach Kenny Atkinson in his pre-game press conference.
It’ll be the first time Allen has appeared in a game since early in the month, when he left their March 3rd game against the Detroit Pistons with what was initially described as a “knocked knee”. Turns out it was a little more serious than that. The team expects Allen to play with a minutes restriction “in the mid-20s”, per Atkinson.
The Cavs have missed Allen on both ends of the floor, with his paint protection and ability to finish efficiently at the rim on offense. His absence has made the Cavs more of a three-point shooting team, which does not play as well in the head coach’s mind. “His rim presence offensively, I think sometimes without him, we become too perimeter oriented,” Atkinson said prior to the team’s game against the Miami Heat.
“I hope we get some reps with this little runway to run with that big lineup, because that’s our best lineup, and we haven’t seen a lot of the combinations that can go around that,” Atkinson continued. “So at least we’ll get some games under our belt before the playoffs start. ” The Cavs have been tinkering with different lineups all season, but with now single-digit regular season games remaining, it’ll be important to get some consistency going.