Jarrett Allen has 29 points and 16 rebounds, Cavaliers hold off Spurs 117-115
CLEVELAND (AP) Jarrett Allen had 29 points and 16 rebounds, Caris LeVert scored 23 points off the bench and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the San Antonio Spurs 117-115 on Sunday.
Top overall draft pick Victor Wembanyama had 24 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots in 25 minutes for San Antonio. The 7-foot-3 Frenchman leads the NBA in blocks and ranks first among rookies in scoring, rebounding and steals.
“(Allen) was a great threat and is a player that I respect,” said Wembanyama, who remains on a minutes restriction imposed by the team. “He’s the type of player I like and he’s already had a long career. He’s efficient and does the hard jobs.”
Allen is averaging 21.0 points and 15.7 rebounds over the last seven games for Cleveland, which has won three in a row. The Cavaliers left for France later in the day in preparation for their Thursday game in Paris against Brooklyn.
“I don’t know any big man, any center who is playing better than Jarrett Allen right now,” Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “In my opinion, he’s an All-Star. He’s got to be. It’s deserving.”
Wembanyama and Allen exchanged highlight-reel blocks of each other in a wild fourth quarter that saw Cleveland build a 111-95 lead, only to have San Antonio answer with a 20-6 run - scoring the final 11 points - to pull within two in the final minute.
The Spurs had a pair of opportunities to go ahead, but Jeremy Sochan threw the ball out of bounds with 10 seconds left and his 31-footer was off target at the buzzer. San Antonio has the second-worst record in the NBA at 5-30 and is 0-11 against the East.
“You know how we do it down here, we like to keep the fans engaged,” Allen quipped. “I’m excited for Wemby because he’s talented, takes people off the dribble, is an excellent shot blocker, posts up. He has it all. And you don’t realize how big his wingspan is until you go against him.”
Sam Merrill scored 18 points and Donovan Mitchell had 17 points and nine assists for the Cavaliers. Cleveland is 8-3 since learning it will be without point guard Darius Garland (broken jaw) and power forward Evan Mobley (left knee surgery) until February.
“In the fourth quarter, we took our foot off the gas a little bit,” LeVert said. “We’ve got to clean that up, but overall it was a good win for us.”
Devin Vassell had 22 points and Tre Jones and Keldon Johnson each added 18 for the Spurs. Longtime Cavaliers forward Cedi Osman had nine points and six rebounds in his return to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
“We outscored them 11-0 in the last three minutes, so the defense was pretty good,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said.
Vassell scored 12 points in the first quarter as the Spurs went up 14, but Merrill caught fire with five 3-pointers to send Cleveland into halftime with a 62-56 lead.
UP NEXT
San Antonio: At Detroit on Wednesday night.
Cleveland: Plays Brooklyn in Paris on Thursday.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Victor Wembanyama vs. Jarrett Allen (Donovan Mitchell gains possession) | ||
| 11:44 | | Jarrett Allen misses two point cutting dunk | ||
| 11:42 | | Max Strus offensive rebound | ||
| 11:31 | | Max Strus misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:29 |  | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | ||
| 11:09 | | +2 | Devin Vassell makes two point pullup jump shot (Julian Champagnie assists) | 2-0 |
| 10:40 | | Donovan Mitchell misses two point jump shot | ||
| 10:38 | | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | ||
| 10:36 | | Dean Wade shooting foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | ||
| 10:36 | | +1 | Victor Wembanyama makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 3-0 |
| 10:36 | | +1 | Victor Wembanyama makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-0 |
| 10:18 | | Jarrett Allen misses two point driving bank hook shot | ||
| 10:15 | | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | ||
| 10:07 | | Victor Wembanyama misses two point driving layup | ||
| 10:04 | | Dean Wade defensive rebound | ||
| 9:59 | | Victor Wembanyama shooting foul (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 9:59 | | +1 | Jarrett Allen makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 4-1 |
| 9:59 | | +1 | Jarrett Allen makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-2 |
| 9:47 | | +2 | Devin Vassell makes two point pullup jump shot | 6-2 |
| 9:35 | | Donovan Mitchell misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:32 | | Julian Champagnie defensive rebound | ||
| 9:29 | | +3 | Devin Vassell makes three point running pullup jump shot | 9-2 |
| 9:18 | | Jeremy Sochan personal foul (Max Strus draws the foul) | ||
| 9:12 | | Dean Wade misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 9:08 | | Julian Champagnie defensive rebound | ||
| 9:01 | | +2 | Tre Jones makes two point cutting layup (Victor Wembanyama assists) | 11-2 |
| 8:46 | | Max Strus misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:44 | | Jarrett Allen offensive rebound | ||
| 8:38 | | +3 | Isaac Okoro makes three point jump shot (Dean Wade assists) | 11-5 |
| 8:24 | | +2 | Devin Vassell makes two point driving layup | 13-5 |
| 8:24 | | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | ||
| 8:04 | | Donovan Mitchell misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:02 | | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | ||
| 7:54 | | Victor Wembanyama turnover (bad pass) (Max Strus steals) | ||
| 7:46 | | Victor Wembanyama shooting foul (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 7:46 | | +1 | Jarrett Allen makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 13-6 |
| 7:46 | | +1 | Jarrett Allen makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 13-7 |
| 7:34 | | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point driving floating jump shot | 15-7 |
| 7:34 | | Max Strus shooting foul (Jeremy Sochan draws the foul) | ||
| 7:34 | | +1 | Jeremy Sochan makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 16-7 |
| 7:17 | | +3 | Max Strus makes three point jump shot (Donovan Mitchell assists) | 16-10 |
| 7:01 | | Devin Vassell misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 6:59 | | Dean Wade defensive rebound | ||
| 6:52 | | Max Strus misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:48 | | Devin Vassell defensive rebound | ||
| 6:46 | | Julian Champagnie turnover (out of bounds step) | ||
| 6:26 | | Dean Wade misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:24 | | Isaac Okoro offensive rebound | ||
| 6:12 | | Isaac Okoro misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:09 | | Dominick Barlow defensive rebound | ||
| 5:58 | | Tre Jones turnover (bad pass) (Jarrett Allen steals) | ||
| 5:51 | | +2 | Donovan Mitchell makes two point running layup | 16-12 |
| 5:38 | | +2 | Tre Jones makes two point pullup jump shot | 18-12 |
| 5:17 | | Donovan Mitchell turnover (bad pass) (Dominick Barlow steals) | ||
| 4:55 | | +3 | Jeremy Sochan makes three point jump shot (Tre Jones assists) | 21-12 |
| 4:40 | | Isaac Okoro turnover (lost ball) (Devin Vassell steals) | ||
| 4:35 | | +3 | Devin Vassell makes three point running jump shot (Tre Jones assists) | 24-12 |
| 4:34 | | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:21 | | Sam Merrill misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 4:17 | | Tristan Thompson offensive rebound | ||
| 4:17 | | Tristan Thompson misses two point tip layup | ||
| 4:17 | | Dominick Barlow defensive rebound | ||
| 4:09 | | Devin Vassell misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:06 | | Dominick Barlow offensive rebound | ||
| 3:54 | | +2 | Tre Jones makes two point driving layup | 26-12 |
| 3:29 | | +2 | Georges Niang makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 26-14 |
| 3:15 | | Dominick Barlow turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 2:51 | | +3 | Sam Merrill makes three point jump shot (Tristan Thompson assists) | 26-17 |
| 2:30 | | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point driving floating jump shot | 28-17 |
| 2:16 | | Georges Niang misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 2:14 | | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 2:00 | | Georges Niang blocks Devin Vassell's two point driving layup | ||
| 2:00 | | Spurs offensive rebound | ||
| 1:53 | | Cedi Osman misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:49 | | Max Strus defensive rebound | ||
| 1:36 | | +2 | Tristan Thompson makes two point turnaround hook shot | 28-19 |
| 1:14 | | +2 | Cedi Osman makes two point driving floating jump shot (Dominick Barlow assists) | 30-19 |
| 1:02 | | Georges Niang misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:59 | | Blake Wesley defensive rebound | ||
| 0:55 | | Malaki Branham misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:55 | | Georges Niang defensive rebound | ||
| 0:45 | | +3 | Sam Merrill makes three point jump shot (Georges Niang assists) | 30-22 |
| 0:24 | | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point driving bank hook shot | 32-22 |
| 0:02 | | +3 | Caris LeVert makes three point stepback jump shot | 32-25 |
| 0:00 | | Blake Wesley turnover (bad pass) (Caris LeVert steals) | ||
| 0:00 | | +3 | Caris LeVert makes three point pullup jump shot | 32-28 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:44 | | +3 | Keldon Johnson makes three point jump shot (Tre Jones assists) | 35-28 |
| 11:31 | | Caris LeVert turnover (bad pass) (Keldon Johnson steals) | ||
| 11:28 | | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point running dunk | 37-28 |
| 11:11 | | Sam Merrill misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:11 | | Tristan Thompson offensive rebound | ||
| 11:07 | | +2 | Tristan Thompson makes two point putback layup | 37-30 |
| 10:46 | | Keldon Johnson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:45 | | Cavaliers defensive rebound | ||
| 10:20 | | Keldon Johnson personal foul (Tristan Thompson draws the foul) | ||
| 10:11 | | Sam Merrill misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:09 | | Blake Wesley defensive rebound | ||
| 10:04 | | Georges Niang shooting foul (Blake Wesley draws the foul) | ||
| 10:04 | | +1 | Blake Wesley makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 38-30 |
| 10:04 | | Blake Wesley misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 10:01 | | Georges Niang defensive rebound | ||
| 9:45 | | Victor Wembanyama blocks Caris LeVert's two point driving reverse layup | ||
| 9:45 | | Cavaliers offensive rebound | ||
| 9:45 | | Georges Niang offensive foul (Cedi Osman draws the foul) | ||
| 9:45 | | Georges Niang turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 9:32 | | Cavaliers technical foul (Defensive three second) | ||
| 9:32 | | Victor Wembanyama misses technical free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 9:32 | | Spurs offensive rebound | ||
| 9:18 | | Keldon Johnson misses two point driving layup | ||
| 9:15 | | Keldon Johnson offensive rebound | ||
| 9:15 | | Keldon Johnson misses two point tip layup | ||
| 9:15 | | Keldon Johnson offensive rebound | ||
| 9:13 | | Keldon Johnson misses two point tip layup | ||
| 9:13 | | Tristan Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 9:00 | | Caris LeVert misses two point driving layup | ||
| 8:57 | | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | ||
| 8:56 | | Victor Wembanyama turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 8:39 | | +3 | Sam Merrill makes three point jump shot (Caris LeVert assists) | 38-33 |
| 8:39 | | Spurs 60 second timeout | ||
| 8:19 | | Victor Wembanyama misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:16 | | Caris LeVert defensive rebound | ||
| 8:10 | | Cedi Osman shooting foul (Sam Merrill draws the foul) | ||
| 8:10 | | +1 | Sam Merrill makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 38-34 |
| 8:10 | | +1 | Sam Merrill makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 38-35 |
| 8:10 | | +1 | Sam Merrill makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 38-36 |
| 7:58 | | Tristan Thompson shooting foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | ||
| 7:58 | | +1 | Victor Wembanyama makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 39-36 |
| 7:58 | | +1 | Victor Wembanyama makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 40-36 |
| 7:44 | | +2 | Tristan Thompson makes two point cutting dunk (Sam Merrill assists) | 40-38 |
| 7:29 | | Julian Champagnie misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:27 | | Craig Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 7:20 | | +3 | Sam Merrill makes three point running jump shot (Craig Porter Jr. assists) | 40-41 |
| 7:05 | | +3 | Tre Jones makes three point jump shot (Victor Wembanyama assists) | 43-41 |
| 6:53 | | Tristan Thompson offensive foul (Charge) (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | ||
| 6:53 | | Tristan Thompson turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 6:39 | | Victor Wembanyama misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:34 | | Donovan Mitchell defensive rebound | ||
| 6:31 | | +3 | Sam Merrill makes three point running jump shot (Donovan Mitchell assists) | 43-44 |
| 6:17 | | Craig Porter Jr. blocks Tre Jones's two point driving layup | ||
| 6:15 | | Sam Merrill defensive rebound | ||
| 6:11 | | +3 | Georges Niang makes three point running jump shot (Sam Merrill assists) | 43-47 |
| 5:56 | | +3 | Devin Vassell makes three point stepback jump shot | 46-47 |
| 5:47 | | +2 | Donovan Mitchell makes two point driving layup | 46-49 |
| 5:31 | | +3 | Victor Wembanyama makes three point stepback jump shot | 49-49 |
| 5:19 | | Victor Wembanyama blocks Sam Merrill's three point jump shot | ||
| 5:16 | | Tre Jones defensive rebound | ||
| 5:16 | | Tristan Thompson personal foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | ||
| 5:07 | | Jeremy Sochan misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:04 | | Keldon Johnson offensive rebound | ||
| 5:02 | | Blake Wesley misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:02 | | Cavaliers defensive rebound | ||
| 4:59 | | Dominick Barlow personal foul (Loose ball) (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 4:39 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point cutting layup (Donovan Mitchell assists) | 49-51 |
| 4:22 | | Keldon Johnson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:19 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 4:09 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point cutting dunk (Donovan Mitchell assists) | 49-53 |
| 4:09 | | Spurs 60 second timeout | ||
| 3:54 | | Keldon Johnson misses two point driving layup | ||
| 3:54 | | Cavaliers defensive rebound | ||
| 3:44 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point cutting layup (Donovan Mitchell assists) | 49-55 |
| 3:44 | | Blake Wesley shooting foul (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 3:44 | | +1 | Jarrett Allen makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 49-56 |
| 3:31 | | +3 | Keldon Johnson makes three point jump shot (Devin Vassell assists) | 52-56 |
| 3:15 | | +2 | Donovan Mitchell makes two point driving floating jump shot | 52-58 |
| 3:01 | | Devin Vassell misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 2:57 | | Max Strus defensive rebound | ||
| 2:44 | | Donovan Mitchell misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:41 | | Dominick Barlow defensive rebound | ||
| 2:20 | | +2 | Dominick Barlow makes two point turnaround hook shot (Jeremy Sochan assists) | 54-58 |
| 2:02 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point cutting dunk (Isaac Okoro assists) | 54-60 |
| 1:51 | | Dominick Barlow misses two point jump shot | ||
| 1:47 | | Isaac Okoro defensive rebound | ||
| 1:36 | | Georges Niang misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:34 | | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | ||
| 1:15 | | Devin Vassell misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:13 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 1:07 | | Donovan Mitchell turnover (lost ball) (Devin Vassell steals) | ||
| 1:04 | | +2 | Blake Wesley makes two point running dunk (Jeremy Sochan assists) | 56-60 |
| 0:44 | | Donovan Mitchell misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 0:41 | | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | ||
| 0:31 | | Jeremy Sochan misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 0:29 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 0:11 | | Jarrett Allen misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 0:09 | | Jarrett Allen offensive rebound | ||
| 0:09 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point tip layup | 56-62 |