Cavs likely to be without Jarrett Allen when season opens tonight

INDEPENDENCE — Those hoping to see Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen available in the regular-season opener in Brooklyn tonight might be disappointed. He'll likely be out of the lineup at 7:30 when the Cavs take on the Nets in the Barclays Center. The 6-foot-11, 248-pound center missed virtually the entire preseason with a bone bruise in his ankle. He was seen shooting around after practice Tuesday at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff was non-committal when asked about his starting center. On Monday, Bickerstaff said Allen would have to go through a full practice before the Cavs allowed him to play. "It's too difficult and too dangerous to not allow him the time to do that," he said. Power forward Evan Mobley will shift to center if Allen is not able to play. The Cavs are off Thursday and will then host back-to-back games against Oklahoma City and Indiana on Friday and Saturday. With no chance for a full-court practice, that could mean a multi-game absence for Allen. "Possibly," Bickerstaff said. "It's a long season. We want to make sure he's comfortable coming back and not Ping-Ponging him back and forth (in and out of the lineup). "We're going to miss J.A. There are no ifs, ands or buts." Bickerstaff said the 7-foot Mobley has done a good job at center and added the coaches want the ball in his hands more this season. "Through increased usage, his impact is going to change," Bickerstaff said. "Just watching him with the ball in his hands, it creates opportunities for the people around him. He's an ultimate team player. "Evan has a burning desire to be great. That's where his concern is. 'How can I go out and help the Cavs win as many games as we can?' You can't put on a number on how much he wants to win." Bickerstaff said Allen will be most missed on the defensive end. "There was a reason why we were elite defensively last year because of those two side-by-side," he said. "Now, everyone has to step up." Forward Dean Wade didn't practice Tuesday due to illness. He might also miss the season opener. Bob Finnan can be reached at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.