Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson provided an update on Jarrett Allen's status on Tuesday, indicating significant progress ahead of the Wine and Gold's meeting with the Orlando Magic for a three-game homestand.
"They've ramped it up over the last few days, so there's a positive trend," Atkinson said. "I saw him on the court yesterday, contact. I think we're in the last stages of preparing him, so I can guess [he'll return within] The next few games, that window.”
Allen returning to the fold would be a welcome sight for the Cavs, who have missed James Harden with his rim protection and pick-and-roll skills. He missed the last game and will not be in action against the Magic due to right knee tendinitis. Cleveland's veteran big man suffered the injury early in the second half of the Detroit Pistons game on March 3 and has not played since.
If Atkinson's optimism proves justified, we'll see Allen this week.
Cavs receive another important injury update
Elsewhere on the injury front, Atkinson shared the latest news on Jaylon Tyson, who hasn't played since the fourth quarter of the Cavs' win over the Chicago Bulls last Thursday. The second-year swingman suffered a sprained left toe and what is now being treated as a bone bruise.
"Not long-term," Atkinson said of the label change. "He practiced yesterday, and it was bothering him, quite honestly, so we took him out of practice. It's an injury; definitely not long-term. I can see it being very short-term. It's going to be a pain to bear. I hope he recovers very quickly."
Tyson has been a big part of the Cavs' rotation recently despite his minutes being cut back, so this is solid news regarding his troublesome toe. However, it doesn't help their case in the current battle for more minutes, as Cleveland tries to figure out who will play the most minutes and who will be in the starting five.
