CLEVELAND — Jarrett Allen admitted the weight of playing in his first career Game 7 hit him while driving to the arena on Sunday afternoon. That realization turned the usually quiet center into a vocal, energetic leader, as his monster 22-point, 19-rebound performance powered the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 114-102 victory over the Toronto Raptors.
Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson noticed the difference right away during pregame introductions, with Allen bouncing around and firing up his teammates with high-fives. On Cleveland’s first possession, Allen threw down a thunderous dunk attempt that set an aggressive tone, even if it rimmed out.
After a tied halftime, Allen took over in the third quarter, pouring in 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds—including five offensive boards—along with a block. The Cavs outscored Toronto 38-19 in the period to seize control of the game.
“That really took us over the top,” Atkinson said. “That’s the best I’ve seen him. The offensive rebounding, the inside scoring—we needed someone else to step up besides [Donovan] Mitchell and James Harden. He was absolutely incredible tonight.”
In the fourth quarter, following a scuffle, Allen shouted toward the Raptors bench, “Go home,” showing his heightened emotions. “Emotions running high, the crowd’s getting into it,” Allen said afterward with a laugh. “Switching to a different role.”
Allen noted he began embracing a more vocal leadership style in Game 5 during a halftime rally. On Sunday, he kept pushing his teammates: “Just give everything you got. All I ask is give more—one more effort, one more push, one more bit of energy.”
The fourth-seeded Cavaliers advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they will face the top-seeded Detroit Pistons starting Tuesday night in Detroit.
Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 24 points and nine rebounds, while RJ Barrett added 23 points. The Raptors were shorthanded without key starters Brandon Ingram and Immanuel Quickley due to injuries.
Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson credited the series for building his team. “This series galvanized us,” he said. “Their physicality, speed, and athleticism… These types of series build you up. I’m glad we went through it.”
Despite efficiency struggles from Mitchell (22 points) and Harden (18 points), the Cavs pulled away comfortably—a sign of their growing depth and resilience.