Injury Woes Continue for Cavaliers as Jarrett Allen Suffers Finger Fracture

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ promising start to the 2025–26 NBA season has been overshadowed by a wave of injuries. On Thursday, the team announced that center Jarrett Allen suffered a non-displaced fracture of his distal phalanx in his left ring finger—an injury that further strains an already depleted rotation. The setback occurred during Wednesday’s lopsided loss to the Boston Celtics and was confirmed following an X-ray and evaluation by the Cavaliers’ medical staff at Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine.

According to the team’s statement, Allen will undergo treatment and be re-evaluated ahead of Friday’s matchup against the Toronto Raptors. He has been officially listed as questionable. The injury is not expected to be season-threatening, but its timing is less than ideal for a Cavaliers squad already struggling to maintain roster stability.

Allen’s diagnosis continues a troubling trend for Cleveland, which has battled injuries to several key contributors in the season’s opening stretch. The team is still without All-Star guard Darius Garland and forward Max Strus, both recovering from earlier ailments. For head coach Kenny Atkinson, every game has become a challenge of balancing rotations and maintaining chemistry amid constant changes.

Despite their depth and defensive foundation, the Cavaliers are feeling the toll of these absences. The latest injury to one of their cornerstone big men adds more uncertainty to a team still trying to find its rhythm in the Eastern Conference.

1. A Growing List of Casualties

Allen’s injury is just the latest entry in what has become an extensive list of early-season setbacks for Cleveland. Before this week, the Cavaliers had already been dealing with the absences of Garland, Strus, and De’Andre Hunter, who missed the first two games of the season after a knee-to-knee collision in the team’s preseason finale. When Hunter finally returned to action, Cleveland’s luck worsened again. Guard Sam Merrill exited Monday’s contest after colliding with teammate Evan Mobley, suffering what the team later described as a right hip contusion—later clarified by Atkinson as a hip pointer. These disruptions have prevented the Cavaliers from developing any sustained continuity through their first handful of games. For a team built on cohesion and defensive discipline, the lack of consistency in its lineup has been glaring. Players have been forced to shift roles and minutes, often adjusting on the fly. Atkinson has leaned on his bench to fill gaps, but the constant reshuffling has made it difficult for the Cavaliers to establish their identity on either end of the floor. As the roster continues to fluctuate, Cleveland’s early-season goal has shifted from chasing momentum to simply staying competitive until its stars return. The team’s resilience will be tested in the coming weeks as they try to remain afloat in a competitive Eastern Conference.

2. Adjusting Without Their Anchor

If Allen is forced to miss time, the Cavaliers will need a collective effort to compensate for his production in the paint. The 26-year-old center is not only Cleveland’s second-leading rebounder but also its primary interior defender and most reliable screen-setter. Even if he plays through the injury, a fractured finger could limit his grip, rebounding, and shot-blocking efficiency. That places additional responsibility on forward Evan Mobley, who has already taken on a heavier workload this season. Mobley will be expected to shoulder more of the rebounding and rim-protecting duties while continuing to anchor the offense in Allen’s absence. The rest of the roster—including reserves Isaac Okoro, Georges Niang, and Dean Wade—will also need to contribute more on the boards and in defensive rotations. Atkinson has emphasized a “next man up” mentality throughout training camp, but the Cavaliers’ depth is being tested earlier than anyone anticipated. The team’s ability to maintain its defensive identity—its hallmark last season—will hinge on collective effort and discipline rather than star power. The Cavaliers’ frontcourt has long been one of their strengths, and while Allen’s injury doesn’t appear severe, even a minor setback can disrupt timing and rhythm in the middle of the season. Cleveland will need to rely on energy, execution, and grit to stay competitive while its key pieces recover.

3. Hoping for Healing and Stability

The Cavaliers are optimistic that reinforcements are on the way. Darius Garland is reportedly close to returning to action, and Hunter continues to ramp up his minutes after recovering from his preseason injury. Still, the team’s ongoing injury challenges have made it difficult to find continuity, something Atkinson has repeatedly stressed as essential for long-term success. Cleveland’s next few games will provide a measure of its resilience. Facing teams like Toronto, Philadelphia, and Indiana, the Cavaliers will need to rely on depth and defensive consistency to weather the storm. The silver lining is that none of the team’s recent injuries appear catastrophic, suggesting that better days could be ahead once the rotation stabilizes. In the meantime, the team will continue to evaluate Allen’s progress daily. While the fracture is expected to heal without surgery, how quickly he can return to full strength remains unclear. His presence—and effectiveness—will be critical as Cleveland navigates a challenging early schedule. For now, the Cavaliers’ focus is simple: survive the stretch, get healthy, and rediscover the chemistry that made them one of the league’s most promising young teams last season.