CLEVELAND — Jarrett Allen waited for a pregame high-five from his coach that never came. He got a bear hug instead.
“I forgot he was on the team,” joked Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson. “I’m so used to him not being in the starting lineup. I had to hug him to welcome him back.”
Allen returned after missing 10 games with knee tendinitis and gave Cleveland a major spark, scoring 18 points in 18 minutes as the Cavs rolled to a 149-128 win over the Miami Heat on Friday.
After being warmly received by his teammates and fans, the 6-foot-11 Allen scored on the first possession with a short hook in the lane. He scored eight points in the first four minutes.
“It was great,” Allen said of his quick start. “Shoutout to Kenny, he drew up the first play for me. I usually don’t get the first play sometimes, but he wanted to get me going, wanted to get me back in the groove of things and from there, things just started rolling for me.”
Allen had been out since he got hurt March 3 while playing the Detroit Pistons. The injury didn’t initially appear serious, but the Cavaliers reported it as “severe” tendinitis and took a cautious approach while the 27-year-old recovered.
Before the game, Atkinson said Allen would likely be limited to 20 minutes in his first game back. He added 10 rebounds and a couple dunks as he gave the Cavaliers a glimpse of what they can be like when fully healthy.
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Max Strus made eight 3-pointers and scored 29 points to pace the Cavaliers, who set a franchise record for points in a regulation game. Evan Mobley added 23 points, and James Harden had 17 with 14 assists — his most since joining Cleveland at the trade deadline.
About the only misstep was Atkinson forgetting to slap hands with Allen after player introductions.
“He wasn’t used to me playing, and he missed me on the high five,” Allen said smiling. “That’s incredible.”
The Cavaliers (46-28) have been dealing with injuries all season, and the timing of Allen’s had been especially troubling with only eight games left in the regular season. Cleveland, which is holding the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, hasn’t had many games at full strength.
Strus only recently returned after missing more than four months following foot surgery.
Allen has played only a handful of games with Harden, whose addition at the trade deadline has raised the Cavaliers’ title hopes.
Atkinson said he was grateful the team has a “runway” to get Allen up to speed with Harden, All-Star Donovan Mitchell and others.
Cleveland’s defense has suffered without Allen, who paired with reigning defensive player of the year Mobley gives the Cavaliers one of the NBA’s most formidable front lines.
“It starts at the rim with him — at both ends,” said Atkinson. “He gives us a threat and protects the rim, and it makes life easier. He’s like a 7-foot goalie. He’s a big part of what we do.”
Allen is averaging 15.3 points and 8.5 rebounds in 52 starts this season.
Before getting hurt, Allen had one of the best offensive stretches of his career, a run that coincided with Mobley being out with a left calf strain. On Feb. 1, Allen scored a career-high 40 points and added 17 rebounds against the Portland Trail Blazers.
While Allen is back, the Cavaliers are still without Jaylon Tyson (toe) and Dean Wade (ankle), two rotational players.
