After Evan Mobley missed several games due to a nagging calf injury, Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson gave an update on the star big man.

Down by as much as 13 points against the Rockets, the Cavs found a defensive spark in their zone-based scheme from big man Jarrett Allen.

Evan Mobley throws it up to Jarrett Allen for an alley-oop slam to give the Cavaliers a 12-point lead late.

The Cavs will get back a key piece to their lineup in their second game against the Houston Rockets on Saturday.

Allen put up 17 points (7-11 FG, 3-3 FT), 13 boards, three assists, three blocks and two steals in 32 minutes of action during Wednesday's 109-108 loss to the Rockets. The big man has taken on a larger role on both ends as Evan Mobley (calf) remains sidelined,

Mobley's comfort and ability from beyond the arc have risen. And so have the Cavs — to the top of the NBA standings.

As we saw then, no team has exposed Holmgren’s absence more so than Cleveland and its supersized frontcourt of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. The Cavs make you feel like Captain Obvious ...

Amen Thompson had his second career triple-double, Alperin Sengun and Jalen Green scored 26 points apiece and the Houston Rockets beat the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers 135-131 on Saturday night.

However, with Mobley sidelined, Atkinson has noticed that it’s opened a window for big man Jarrett Allen to step up and become a two-way wrecking crew. “He’d obviously rather have Evan there ...