In his first Game 7, Jarrett Allen delivers a 22-point, 19-rebound night to help Cavs advance
CLEVELAND (AP) — Jarrett Allen is usually laid back before games, including interacting with the crowd during the last minute of pregame warmups. That wasn't the case Sunday night as he played in his first Game 7. Not only was the veteran center even more pumped up than usual, he had a game to remember.
Allen's 22 points and 19 rebounds in Cleveland's 114-102 victory over Toronto made him the second player in franchise history with at least 20 points and 15 rebounds in a Game 7. LeBron James had 35 points and 15 boards in Game 7 of the 2018 Eastern Conference final against Boston to get Cleveland into the NBA Finals for the fourth straight year. “I had a great time doing it.
Honestly, that was my first Game 7 I’ve ever played in,” said Allen, who had his 11th double-double in a playoff game and tied a postseason high in scoring. “It was a unique experience driving here from my house. It’s like, ‘I’m going to a Game 7, everything’s on the line.
’ It’s just a different feeling that I’ve never experienced before. The crowd’s into it, I’m into it. ” After Cleveland went on an 11-2 run to close the first half and tie it at 49, Allen took over in the third quarter.
The ninth-year center became the first player in franchise history to have a double-double in a playoff quarter as his 14 points and 10 rebounds in the third put the Cavaliers on top 87-68 going into the final 12 minutes. Allen also had five offensive boards, one steal and a blocked shot as he played the entire third quarter. “I just wanted to show my teammates that we could win this game," he said.