Jarrett Allen Exits Early, Forcing Mario Hezonja Into Cleveland's Second-Half Lineup

The Cleveland Cavaliers just lost their defensive anchor halfway through Wednesday's game, and the backup plan is pure chaos. Jarrett Allen has been ruled out for the second half with an injury, forcing Mario Hezonja into the starting five to close out the night.

Going from an All-Star caliber center to a journeyman forward in the middle of a basketball game is like ordering a bone-in ribeye and watching the waiter confidently hand you a single boiled potato. It completely changes the geometry of the floor and leaves the paint wide open.

Before heading to the locker room, Allen was putting together another solid campaign, averaging 15.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. He is the structural integrity of the Cleveland defense, and without him, opposing guards are going to treat the lane like a slip-and-slide.

Hezonja stepping in means the Cavaliers are officially scrambling. He is currently averaging 8.1 points and 5.6 rebounds, which is fine for a rotational wing but absolutely terrifying if you need him to replicate the production of a traditional big man.

This is just the latest brutal break for Allen, who has spent the last few months battling everything from knee tendinitis to finger injuries on both hands. The guy simply cannot catch a break, and Cleveland's medical staff is going to run out of athletic tape by the weekend.

If you were holding an over ticket on Allen's points and rebounds tonight, you have my deepest sympathies. For the live betting crowd, the math just drastically shifted toward whoever is attacking the rim against a suddenly undersized Cleveland frontcourt.

The Cavaliers are already dealing with a depleted roster, missing rotation pieces like Dean Wade to ankle issues. We will have to wait for the postgame press conference to find out the severity of Allen's latest setback, but if he misses extended time, Cleveland's playoff rotation is going to look like a pickup run at the local YMCA.