Jarrett Allen's 22-Point Explosion Sends Cavs Past Raptors in Game 7 Thriller

The Cleveland Cavaliers are heading to the Eastern Conference semifinals after a dominant third-quarter performance that buried the Toronto Raptors 114-102 in Game 7 on Sunday night. And it was Jarrett Allen who put the nail in the coffin, dropping 14 of his career playoff-high-tying 22 points in that pivotal third quarter while pulling down 19 rebounds. This was the kind of statement win that gets a team rolling into the next round.

Allen's Third-Quarter Takeover Changed Everything

Here's what happened: Cleveland trailed by double digits in both the first and second quarters. Then the third quarter hit, and it was over. The Cavaliers outscored Toronto 38-19 in that frame, and Allen was the engine behind it all. He grabbed 10 rebounds in the quarter alone, with five coming on the offensive glass. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Cleveland had built a commanding 94-72 lead and never looked back.

Donovan Mitchell chipped in 22 points of his own, and James Harden added 18 points and six rebounds. The bench got involved too, with the Cavaliers firing on all cylinders when it mattered most.

Toronto Never Could Recover

The Raptors fought hard despite missing two key starters. Brandon Ingram was sidelined with right heel soreness, and Immanuel Quickley sat out due to a right hamstring strain. Scottie Barnes did his part with 24 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. RJ Barrett added 23 points on 9-of-25 shooting, and Jamal Shead contributed 14 points and seven assists. But it wasn't enough to overcome that devastating third quarter collapse.

Toronto actually started strong. Shead and Barnes combined to keep the Raptors ahead early, with Toronto shooting 55% from the floor in the first quarter. But Cleveland's defense locked in when it mattered most, and the fourth-seeded Cavaliers took control of the series.

What's Next

The Cavaliers will face the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the East semifinals beginning Tuesday in Detroit. It's worth noting that the home team won every single game in the Cavaliers-Pistons series, so expect Detroit to bring everything they have. As for Cleveland, they're 5-0 all-time at home in Game 7 and have beaten the Raptors all 11 times in the playoffs in their arena. They've also won all four of their postseason series against Toronto. The Pistons better be ready.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.