Jarrett Allen erupts with monster double-double as Cavaliers edge Hornets

Jarrett Allen, Kevin Love lift Cleveland Cavaliers over the Hornets

The Cleveland Cavaliers bounced back from a disappointing loss to a bottom-ranked team, coming back to outlast the Charlotte Hornets on the road, 102-101. Without their floor general in Darius Garland, the Cavs continued to struggle but overcame the odds to secure the win.

Veteran forward Kevin Love nailed two clutch free throws with a second left in the game to ice it for the Cavs en route to 25 points and nine boards as he continued to build a solid case for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award. Cleveland, however, got their largest boost from Jarrett Allen.

The 23-year-old paint menace tallied 29 points and 22 rebounds off 60 percent shooting from the field. Playing with a fire underneath him after not being selected as a reserve for the upcoming All-Star game in Cleveland, he was just one rebound away from a double-double by the end of the first quarter.

Falling behind by double figures early, Cleveland raced back to build a 17-point lead in the second half behind the hot shooting of Love but had been threatened by a potential comeback by the Hornets following an unusual turn of events that saw the referees make a pair of dodgy calls late.

Cavs reserve big man Ed Davis was called for a technical foul as he interfered with Terry Rozier’s three-pointer while on the bench. The call translated to four Hornets points even when the attempt clearly came after a whistle and should not have counted. That would have been huge had Cleveland lost.

Cavs continues to push for another All-Star selection

As Cavaliers fans continue to push for Jarrett Allen to be selected as an All-Star reserve, the Hornets have a pair of snubs themselves in Lamelo Ball and Miles Bridges, but both players were completely overshadowed tonight.

Kevin Love, a former five-time NBA All-Star, fully believes Allen should make the Sunday night main event as Cleveland hosts the festivities in two weeks and was caught by television cameras loudly letting him know right after the gutsy win.

All three players surely merit equal consideration, but it would be extra sweet if the Cavaliers big man could join Darius Garland as a first-time selection and play in the glitzy Sunday night game in their own building. He could keep making a case on the floor until NBA commissioner Adam Silver makes the decision.

The Cleveland Cavaliers climb back to fourth place following the victory and are just 1.5 games behind the first-place Chicago Bulls team in the Eastern Conference. Up next are a pair of home games against the Indiana Pacers (Feb. 6) and the San Antonio Spurs (Feb. 9).