Hawks popular favorite ahead of Cavs play-in tilt

The Cleveland Cavaliers could get a major boost in their win-or-go-home Eastern Conference play-in game against the visiting Atlanta Hawks on Friday.

The Cavs are hoping to have All-Star center Jarrett Allen back in the lineup to face the Hawks. The 6-foot-11 inside presence has been out since March 6 with a broken left middle finger, with Cleveland going 7-12 in the games he missed.

They could have used him in their 11