Will Jarrett Allen play for the Cavs in game 7 against the Magic? Injury update

The Cavs and the Magic have gone blow for blow this series, with the winner to be decided in game 7. The 3-3 scoreline shows that is has been practically impossible to separate the two sides, but there will certainly be a winner at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Sunday 5 April (1pm ET).

However, fans are biting their nails over the possible absence of Jarrett Allen, who is not guaranteed to play in the crunch game. Allen started 77 games during the regular season and averaged a career-high 16.5 points per game; it seems so much sport has taken its toll.

What injury does Jarrett Allen have?

Cleveland might have to go into the tie without center Jarrett Allen, sidelined with a rib injury that benched him during their Game 5 victory. Allen has been in decent form so far for the Cavs, averaging 17.0 points and 13.8 rebounds, meaning that without the 26-year-old the Cavs would have to lean heavily on Mitchell and Garland for their 3-point shooting. It would be a huge blow as the team currently ranks as the second-worst in the playoffs, shooting a mere 28% from beyond the arc.

According to the official NBA injury report which all teams are required to submit by 5 p.m. local time on the day before a Game, Allen has a ‘right-rib contusion’ (bruise) and is marked down as ‘questionable’, meaning that his participation is not guaranteed at all. Before Game 6, Bickerstaff told ESPN that Allen “couldn’t move” because of the injury he suffered during Game 4 and that his breathing was also affected.

“It’s going to be a physical game. We expect that, but it’s one of those things where mentally you got to be prepared from the start and there’s no smoothing your way into this one,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters Thursday.

As well as Allen appearing on the list, Ty Jerome, Craig Porter Jr and Dean Wade are all confirmed ‘out’ of game 7. Donovan Mitchell no longer appears and is expected to play.

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Who would the Cavs or Magic play in the Eastern Conference semifinals?

Unfortunately for the two sides in action today, the winner is set to go up against the Big Bad Wolf: top-seeded Boston Celtics are the opponents waiting for them in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Orlando has failed to secure a playoff series victory since 2010, whereas Cleveland, despite being six years removed from their last of four consecutive NBA Finals appearances, hasn’t clinched a series win without LeBron James since 1993.

The game between the Cavs and the Magic, the one that will decide who goes through, will tip off on Sunday 5 April at 1pm ET at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, where the home side will be looking to use their passionate fanbase to push them through.