Jarrett Allen has been a dominant force in the Cavaliers’ first two playoff games against the Magic. He’s averaging 16 points in the first-round series. His 38 total rebounds is just 11 less than Orlando’s entire starting lineup, Joe Vardon of The Athletic notes. Magic defensive star Jonathan Isaac only played 19 minutes due to Allen’s superiority.
Allen has drawn extra motivation from his postseason clunker against the Knicks last season. “He’s a prideful individual,” Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell said. “And I think that the way it happened last year, you could see it’s a motivating thing. I think it goes without saying. I think he’s shown it himself to us all season. I had no doubt that this is who he would be.”