Jarrett Allen Propels Cavaliers Past Rockets

Cavaliers big men Jarrett Allen and Larry Nance Jr. have resumed basketball-related activities on a limited basis and might be ready to play next week, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. Both players were able to work out during a practice session Friday.

© Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) fights for a rebound against Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (left) and forward Larry Nance Jr. (right).

Allen has been sidelined since suffering a concussion in a March 26 game. He missed his seventh consecutive game Saturday night and isn’t expected to play Sunday. Sources tell Fedor he might return Wednesday at Charlotte if he continues to progress through the league’s concussion protocol.

Nance has missed the past four games while fighting the effects of an unknown illness that resulted in a loss of about 20 pounds and forced him to be bedridden. A source told Fedor that Nance is “close to feeling like himself once again.” Cleveland is also looking at a Wednesday return for Nance if his recovery continues. The Cavs will practice Tuesday before making a final decision on either player.

There’s more from Cleveland:

• Matthew Dellavedova‘s return has given Cleveland the back-up point guard it has been lacking all season, Fedor writes in a separate story. Dellavedova, who missed 47 games due to a concussion, whiplash and an emergency appendectomy, is averaging 2.3 points and 5.5 assists through four games, but his plus-minus rating is at plus-29 in 70 minutes. “Delly really does a great job of playing with his brain,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “He understands how to set the table for other people. His game isn’t based on himself. When your game is based on the team and making your teammates’ job easier, it makes … your comeback a little bit easier.” The Cavs signed Yogi Ferrell and Quinn Cook to 10-day contracts to try to fill Dellavedova’s role, but neither was kept on the roster.
• Forward Taurean Prince will likely need ankle surgery once the season is done, Fedor tweets. Acquired in a January trade, Prince has one more year on his contract at $13 million.
• Cavaliers players, coaches and staff members received COVID-19 shots March 30, Fedor adds in another piece. Because it was the Johnson & Johnson version, they won’t have to schedule a second dose, except for Bickerstaff, who got a Moderna shot before the others became available.

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