Jarrett Allen Dominates As Cavaliers Roll Past Trail Blazers

PORTLAND, Ore. — There are nights in the NBA when a player’s presence is simply too much for the opposition to handle. Sunday night at the Moda Center was one of those nights, as Jarrett Allen delivered the most dominant performance of his career, powering the Cleveland Cavaliers to a decisive 130-111 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. For Allen and the Cavs, it wasn’t just a win—it was a statement.

Allen’s fingerprints were on every facet of the game. The 27-year-old center erupted for a career-high 40 points on an ultra-efficient 16-of-23 shooting, grabbed a season-best 17 rebounds, handed out five assists, swatted away four shots, and even picked up a pair of steals—all in just under 30 minutes of action. It was the kind of performance that left fans, teammates, and even his coach in awe.

“I’ve seen him play a lot. This is the best I’ve ever seen him play,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said, recalling his early days coaching Allen in Brooklyn. “It was surreal. From the tip, he completely dominated.”

The Cavaliers, now 30-21 on the season, were coming off a tough loss to the Phoenix Suns that snapped a five-game winning streak. With key starters Evan Mobley (calf strain) and Darius Garland (toe injury) sidelined, and after trading De’Andre Hunter to Sacramento just a day earlier, the pressure was on for someone to step up. Allen did exactly that, showing why he remains such a vital, if sometimes overlooked, part of Cleveland’s core.

Allen wasted no time asserting himself. He poured in 16 points in the first quarter—a season-high for any quarter and just three shy of his career-best. By halftime, he’d already racked up 25 points and 10 rebounds, marking the highest scoring opening half of his career. His previous best was 22 points, set against the Los Angeles Lakers back in December 2022.

“First quarter I felt like I was going to have a special game,” Allen said after the win. “Then it kept rolling for me. I wanted to keep it going. My game is predicated on other people creating for me and we were able to create shots all game.”

But it wasn’t just Allen lighting up the scoreboard. Sam Merrill was sizzling from deep, knocking down six of eight three-point attempts and finishing with 22 points. Jaylon Tyson was perfect from beyond the arc, hitting all four of his triples en route to an 18-point, six-assist effort. Donovan Mitchell, who was recently named an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve, contributed 14 points and nine assists. Nae’Qwan Tomlin added 12 points, and Thomas Bryant chipped in with 10.

“We’re super skilled,” Atkinson said of his team’s offensive outburst. “That’s not saying it arrogantly. It was really beautiful basketball tonight.”

The Cavaliers shot a blistering 54.9% from the field, draining 16 of 34 from three-point range and dishing out a remarkable 41 assists on 50 made baskets. It was a night where everything seemed to click for Cleveland, especially in the third quarter, when they outscored Portland 41-30 and stretched their lead to as many as 24 points.

Portland, meanwhile, faced their own adversity. The Blazers were without All-Star Deni Avdija, who missed the contest with a lower back strain after being named a Western Conference All-Star reserve earlier in the day. Jrue Holiday was also unavailable due to personal reasons, and Scoot Henderson sat out with a hamstring issue. In their absence, Caleb Love stepped up with a team-high 21 points off the bench, while Shaedon Sharpe added 20. Sidy Cissoko and Jerami Grant each finished with 15, and Robert Williams III posted a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Despite trailing by 24 points early in the fourth quarter, the Blazers made a spirited push. An 18-4 run, capped by a Toumani Camara three-pointer, cut the deficit to just 10 with 7:32 left, bringing the home crowd to its feet. But Allen was having none of it. Coming out of a timeout, he drew a foul to halt the Blazers’ momentum, then followed up with a powerful putback dunk to restore the Cavs’ cushion. Merrill and Tyson each connected from deep during an 8-2 burst, pushing the lead back to 17 and sending Portland fans toward the exits.

Allen’s historic night was more than just a personal milestone. He became the first Cavalier ever to record at least 40 points and 15 rebounds in a regular season game, and the first player in NBA history to post a 40-15-5 stat line in under 30 minutes. It was the kind of game that cements a player’s reputation as a difference-maker—especially on a team missing two of its stars.

“Kenny asked me to step up,” Allen explained. “Guys are out. I always pride myself on being there when [the team] needs me. When you have guys like Evan, Donovan and Darius, I fall into the fourth or fifth option, which I’m fine with. But when you need me, I’m here to score, however many you need.”

Both teams came into the night fresh off significant roster changes. The Cavaliers had just acquired guards Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder from Sacramento in a three-team deal that sent De’Andre Hunter to the Kings. The Blazers, meanwhile, added forward Vit Krejci from Atlanta in exchange for injured center Duop Reath and a pair of draft picks. On the court, though, it was Allen and the Cavaliers’ chemistry that made all the difference.

With the win, Cleveland has now taken six of their last seven games, nine of their last 12, and 13 of their last 18. They’ll continue their Western Conference road trip with a matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, tipping off at 10:30 p.m. As for Allen, with Mobley still sidelined, his expanded role seems likely to continue—and after a night like this, who wouldn’t want to see what he does for an encore?

For the Trail Blazers, the loss marks their fifth straight and highlights the challenges of playing shorthanded in a competitive Western Conference. They’ll look to regroup as they host the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

Sunday night belonged to Jarrett Allen and the Cavaliers. If anyone needed a reminder of Allen’s value to Cleveland’s core, this performance sent it loud and clear.