Will Jarrett Allen play for the Cavs in game 4 against the Celtics? Injury update

Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to tie up the series once again after defeat to the Boston Celtics in Game 3, but will likely have to do it without a couple of important players. The Cavs had registered their first win away from home of the postseason, beating the top seeds at TD Garden on Thursday to tie the series at 1-1. But the 106-93 loss that followed gave the Celtics the advantage once again.

That clearly makes Game 4 a crucial one for the home team but with Jarrett Allen almost certainly out, along with a questionable Donovan Mitchell with a left calf strain, it’s going to be an even greater challenge.

Why is Jarrett Allen missing for Cavs?

J. B. Bickerstaff has four players on their injury list, including Allen. The center has played a key role in the Cavs’ postseason - he leads the team’s in rebounds (13.8), steals (1.2) and has the second best figures, behind Donovan Mitchell, in shooting. The 26-year-old has been sidelined since Game 4 of the last round. He finished as the Cavs’ top scorer in the 112-89 defeat to the Magic but suffered a pierced rib injury during the game after colliding with Franz Wagner, taking an elbow to the ribs. The injury left him in excruciating pain and kept him out for the subsequent four matchups, plus the first two games of the semi-finals.

According to the latest reports, Allen’s rib injury is showing small signs of improvement and while some sources have claimed that the player has been struggling to lift his arm, the latest we have is that he has an outside chance of featuring soon. Indeed he was shooting ahead of Game 3.

Bickerstaff recently explained: “Every day, he tries to do more and more and test the mobility. That’s where we’ll get the signs ... of when he’ll be able to play. We’re not gonna put him out there if he can’t protect himself and that’s where he’s been at to this point”.

Allen averaged 17 points (67.6% from the field), 13.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1 block per game in the first round against the Magic. He played 77 games during the regular season, averaging 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.

What other injuries do the Cavs have?

As well as Allen, three others are also on the Cavs’ injury report ahead of tonight - the aforementioned Mitchell seen as questionable, Ty Jerome is nursing an ankle injury and fringe player Craig Porter remains out with a sprained ankle.