Jarrett Allen contributes 18 points in Cavs’ dominant victory against Heat following injury return.

CLEVELAND — Jarrett Allen anticipated a pregame high-five from his coach that did not occur. Instead, he received a bear hug.

“I forgot he was on the team,” quipped Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson. “I’m so accustomed to him not being in the starting lineup. I had to hug him to welcome him back.”

Allen made his return after sitting out 10 games due to knee tendinitis, providing Cleveland with a significant boost by scoring 18 points in 18 minutes as the Cavs triumphed over the Miami Heat with a score of 149-128.

After receiving a warm welcome from his teammates and fans, the 6-foot-11 Allen scored on the opening possession with a short hook shot in the lane. He netted eight points within the first four minutes.

“It was great,” Allen remarked about his fast start. “Shoutout to Kenny, he designed the first play for me. I usually don’t get the first play sometimes, but he wanted to get me going, wanted to help me get back into the rhythm, and from there, things just started flowing for me.”

Allen has been sidelined since sustaining the injury on March 3 while competing against Detroit. The injury initially seemed minor, but the Cavs later classified it as “severe” tendinitis and opted for a cautious recovery approach for the 27-year-old.

Prior to the game, Atkinson indicated that Allen would likely be restricted to 20 minutes in his return. He also contributed 10 rebounds and a couple of dunks as the Cavs showcased what they could achieve when fully healthy.

Max Strus led the Cavs with eight 3-pointers and 29 points, setting a franchise record for points in a regulation game. Evan Mobley added 23 points, while James Harden contributed 17 points and 14 assists—his highest since joining Cleveland at the trade deadline.

The only notable oversight was Atkinson forgetting to give Allen a high-five after player introductions.

“He wasn’t accustomed to me playing, and he missed me on the high five,” Allen said with a smile. “That’s incredible.”

The Cavs have been managing injuries throughout the season, and the timing of Allen’s injury has been particularly concerning with only eight games remaining in the regular season. Cleveland, currently holding the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, has not had many opportunities to play at full strength.

Strus recently returned after being sidelined for over four months following foot surgery.

Allen has also played only a few games alongside Harden, whose acquisition at the trade deadline has elevated championship aspirations for the Cavs.

Atkinson expressed gratitude that the team has a “runway” to integrate Allen with Harden, All-Star Donovan Mitchell, and others.

Cleveland’s defense has struggled in Allen’s absence; when paired with reigning defensive player of the year Mobley, they form one of the league’s most formidable frontcourts.

“It starts at the rim with him – at both ends,” Atkinson stated. “He provides us with a threat and protects the rim, making life easier. He’s like a 7-foot goalie. He’s a crucial part of what we do.”

Allen is averaging 15.3 points and 9.2 rebounds across 51 starts this season.

Before his injury, Allen was experiencing one of the best offensive stretches of his career, a period that coincided with Mobley being sidelined due to a left calf strain. On February 1, Allen recorded a career-high 40 points and added 17 rebounds against Portland.

While Allen has returned, the Cavs remain without Jaylon Tyson (toe) and Dean Wade (ankle), both of whom are rotational players.