Winners and Losers: Cavs vs Heat – Jarrett Allen triumphant in return
Allen made his return to roaring success.
Mar 27, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) drives to the basket against the Miami Heat during the second half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images The Cleveland Cavaliers ran the Miami Heat off the floor. Let’s go over today’s winners and losers.
WINNER – Jarrett Allen In case you couldn’t tell, the Cavs missed Jarrett Allen. That was clear the moment he returned to the floor for his first game since March 3rd. During that time without Allen, the Cavs ‘ defense had fallen off a cliff.
They ranked 20th in defensive rating over the last two weeks. And, while their offense had been surging, it still felt like they were missing an important contributor. Allen provided the goods as soon as he hit the hardwood.
In the opening minutes, Allen sealed Bam Adebayo in the paint for an easy post hook, pounded the glass for a few rebounds, and ran like the wind to finish an alley-oop jam. This trend repeated until he had 18 points and 10 rebounds midway through the third quarter. “He’s been the best rim protector in the league post All-Star,” said Kenny Atkinson.