Cavaliers need Jarrett Allen's toughness to win consistently | Jeff Schudel

Nov. 26—Do not be fooled by that wide, easy smile Jarrett Allen flashes in interviews or pregame warmups.

Once a referee tosses the ball in the air at midcourt to start the game, the smile vanishes.

Allen was injured in the first quarter of the Cavaliers' game with the Bucks in Milwaukee on Nov. 26 when he fell to the floor. He tried to continue, but four minutes into the third quarter he left the game and could not continue.

The Cavaliers led the Bucks, 63-52, at halftime. Milwaukee took over in the second half and ran the Cavs out of the gym, 117-102.

Giannis Antekokounmpo scored 22 of his total points in the first half, so Allen's absence for most of the second half isn't the only reason the Cavaliers lost. But Coach J.B. Bickerstaff has said Allen is worthy of being considered for Defensive Player of the Year. Some of that toughness left the Cavs when Allen limped to the locker room.

"This was a great lesson for us," Bickerstaff told reporters in Milwaukee. "We played against an established team who knows where they need to go when they need to take it to another level.

"They took it to a playoff-level physicality. Those are things we have to learn how to compete against. They are a championship-caliber team. We're learning how to be there."

The Cavaliers play the Pistons in Detroit on Nov. 27 and the Raptors in Toronto on Nov. 28. They return to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to play the 76ers on Nov. 30.

Bickerstaff did not indicate whether Allen will be able to play against the Pistons.

—The Cavaliers (12-7) love home cooking. They are 8-1 at home but just 4-6 on the road. They are 10-3 against Eastern Conference opponents and 2-5 against the West. Two of their defeats have been in Milwaukee.

—Donovan Mitchell is seventh in the league in scoring. He is averaging 30.0 points per game. Luka Doncic of the Mavericks is first. He is averaging 34.0 points a game. ... Allen is ninth in the league with an average of 10.8 rebounds a game. ... Darius Garland is eighth in assists with an average of 7.8 helpers a game. ... The Cavaliers were 9-8 after 17 games last season.