It’s unclear as to if Jarrett Allen needed to clear his schedule, but on October 30, 2024, the former All-Star’s calendar appeared quite busy, meeting with both could-be Los Angeles Lakers scorers at the rim, and history at once. Through well-timed leaps from his 6-foot-11 frame, it became clear, though, that the Cleveland Cavaliers star center had time to accommodate both. As elite as one could get in his early-game, two-way efforts against a Western Conference elite, Allen utilizes instincts to fuel one of the night’s more memorable instances, rotating over upon sensing Rui Hachimura’s driving intent. Meeting the smooth-scoring forward at the absolute summit, Allen stifles his efforts, sending his dunk attempt away for an emphatic, crowd-invigorating swat. Head-to-head with a Los Angeles team featuring a superstar that led Cleveland’s last 5-0 start, Allen played a role in its next, helping propel the Cavaliers to an eye-opening start to 2024-25. Opposing scorers — knowing Allen’s defensive capabilities — tested him infrequently, though Allen nonetheless managed a game-high seven contested shot attempts, paired alongside 20 points (on 9-of-12 shooting), 17 rebounds, two rejections, and a +14 plus-minus. · Oct 30, 2024