The Cleveland Cavaliers rolled into Portland and left with a commanding 130-111 win over the Trail Blazers, riding a career night from Jarrett Allen and a well-oiled offensive machine that had answers at every level. For the Blazers, it marked their fifth straight loss - and while there were bright spots, the gaps in execution and availability were too much to overcome.
Jarrett Allen Dominates the Paint
Let’s start with the headline: Jarrett Allen was unstoppable. The Cavs’ big man dropped a career-high 40 points, and he did it with the kind of efficiency and control that speaks to how far his offensive game has come.
Whether it was rolling hard to the rim, cleaning up misses, or finding soft spots in Portland’s interior defense, Allen looked like a man on a mission. When your center can anchor the defense and lead your scoring, that’s a tough puzzle for any team to solve - especially one missing key defenders.
Caleb Love: Instant Offense off the Bench
For Portland, Caleb Love was a spark plug off the bench. In 30 minutes, he poured in 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including three triples.
He added 3 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals, showing flashes of the two-way potential that made him such a compelling prospect. Yes, the turnovers were there, but overall, this was the kind of performance that turns heads - especially for a guy still finding his rhythm at the NBA level.
Turnovers Tell the Story
Here’s the stat that really stung for Portland: 22 turnovers. That’s the kind of number that sinks even the best shooting nights, and for a team already down a couple of key rotation players in Deni Avdija and Jrue Holiday, it was simply too much to overcome.
The Blazers actually shot a respectable 75% from the free-throw line - the problem was they only got there 12 times. When you’re not generating easy points at the stripe and giving away possessions, it’s a recipe for disaster against a team as disciplined as Cleveland.
Donovan Clingan’s Growing Pains - and Progress
It was a rough night early on for rookie big man Donovan Clingan. He struggled to find his footing for much of the game, especially in the face of Allen’s dominant performance.
But give credit where it’s due: Clingan kept grinding and made an impact during a late fourth-quarter run. He finished with 8 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks - a stat line that shows just how many ways he can affect the game, even when the offense isn’t flowing.
That 18-6 run he helped spark in the fourth? It was a glimpse of what he can bring when he’s locked in.
Blake Wesley Returns with a Burst
After missing 43 games with a right foot fracture, Blake Wesley made his return to the court - and wasted no time making his presence felt. The young guard brought energy and pace, finishing with 5 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, a steal, and 3 turnovers in 19 minutes.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was fast, aggressive, and encouraging. For a team looking for backcourt depth and playmaking punch, Wesley’s return is a welcome development.
Bottom Line
The Cavaliers looked like a team in rhythm, led by a center who played one of the best games of his career. The Trail Blazers, meanwhile, are still searching for consistency - and health. There were positives to build on, especially from their young core, but until they clean up the turnovers and get their full roster back, nights like this are going to be tough to avoid.