Jarrett Allen said the Cavaliers’ Game 4 win over the Pistons was built on something simple, but critical: energy. After Cleveland evened the second-round series with a 112-103 victory on Monday night, the center pointed to the third quarter as the moment the game tilted for good.
“Right. Our energy. I think you all saw it in the third quarter,” Allen said. “We on an incredible run, but I think it all started on the defensive end.”
The Cavaliers’ burst was historic. Donovan Mitchell scored 39 second-half points and Cleveland ripped off a 24-0 run to seize control after trailing 56-52 at halftime.
Allen said the message at the break was direct. “It was just one of those moments we told each other the time is now. It’s time to do it now.”
The big man said the response came from the Cavaliers doing the little things together. “Our communication, our effort, our one mores,” Allen said. “I think that made a huge difference.”
Mitchell’s second-half takeover was the headline, but Allen made clear Cleveland’s defense created the runway. “He gave us everything on the offensive end and even on the defensive end, he was getting over every single screen,” Allen said. “He was going back to rebound. He was giving us every single effort that he had.”
Allen also gave Evan Mobley major praise after the forward’s all-around defensive night. Mobley finished with 17 points, five blocks and three steals, and Allen said, “Incredible. He continues to impress every single time on the boards, scoring, blocking shots, getting steals.”
He added that Mobley’s impact goes beyond the box score. “He does so many things that even the stat sheet doesn’t show up and every single night he’s incredible out there.”
The Cavaliers’ interior defense was a major reason Detroit struggled to sustain its offense once Cleveland’s pressure picked up. Allen said the key against Cade Cunningham is making everything harder from the start of the possession.
“Just try to get in his way,” Allen said. “Try to make sure that he rethinks every single pass that he’s going to take. Try to make sure that every single drive to the lane, somebody’s there to bump him. Somebody’s there to contest him.”
Allen also pointed to the Cleveland crowd, which grew louder as the third quarter unfolded. “Incredible,” he said of Rocket Arena. “It seemed like every single time we scored it went up another level and then another level and another level.”
The center said that energy can matter again as the series shifts to Detroit for Game 5 on Wednesday. “Winning two games, it’s a lot of momentum,” Allen said, “but we have to learn to win on the road.”
He closed with a note on the Cavaliers’ growing chemistry. “James has been incredible. Donovan has been incredible,” Allen said. “Every single game they learn something different about each other.”
