Even though it was at the same time the Cleveland Browns were kicking off, the Cleveland Cavaliers had a hot matchup against the San Antonio Spurs. Considering the Spurs were 5-29 heading into the tilt, the main attraction was between Cavs big man Jarrett Allen and San Antonio big man Victory Wembanyama.

With Evan Mobley and Darius Garland out to start 2024, Allen has stepped up spectacularly for Cleveland, averaging 18.4 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 32.2 minutes per game. While the Spurs have been one of the NBA's bottom-feeders, Wembanyama is putting together a stellar rookie campaign with averages of 19.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 3.2 blocks in only 29.3 minutes per game.

Jarrett Allen vs. Wemby

This game was a literal clash of the titans, and when the final buzzer sounded and the Cavs won 117-115, neither Allen nor Wembanyama was disappointed. Allen finished the game with 29 points on 57.9% shooting and 16 rebounds, his seventh straight double-double of the season. Meanwhile, Wembanyama had 24 points on 46.2% shooting, nine rebounds, three assists, and four blocks.

While San Antonio's star rookie had some flashy stats, Allen was the one who personally won the battle between the two bigs. On offense, Cleveland made a concerted effort to force Wembanyama to help on defense, and, more often than not, the San Antonio big man overcommitted, leaving Allen wide open on the interior. Allen continued to burn Wembanyama, who was usually a step too slow to help against Allen, either leading to a clean look at the basket, an even cleaner second-chance opportunity or a trip to the free throw line.

Overall, Allen was able to draw two separate fouls on Wembanyama despite the French big man's 8-foot wingspan. More impressively, Allen was only blocked once by Wembanyama whenever both players were on the floor, with San Antonio's rookie instead blocking Sam Merrill on the perimeter and Caris LeVert and Merrill at the rim instead. Allen's lone block, meanwhile, was a statement on Wembanyama, welcoming the big man to the NBA:

For those who tuned in for this afternoon's tilt between San Antonio and Cleveland, Allen dominating one of the greatest basketball prospects since LeBron James might be surprising. But when considering how well Allen has performed without his All-Star point guard in Garland or otherworldly defensive co-partner in Mobley alongside him, it shouldn't be. Even more so when facing an elite big man like Wembanyama, this outing was just another day at the office for Allen.

Allen showing out for shorthanded Cavs

Like Wembanyama, Allen has shown up and shown out against other members of the NBA's elite bigs all season long. In his lone matchup with Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers this season, Allen looked like the reigning MVP, finishing the game with 26 points, 13 rebounds and two assists in 35 minutes. Meanwhile, against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, Allen wasn't fazed, finishing the game with 15 points, five rebounds, five assists, and one steal, all while thoroughly shutting down Jokic, arguably the best player in basketball.

Sure, Allen isn't Superman, and there are some nights he's far from perfect when looking at the box score. But considering how he continually puts in the work and steps up against some of the league's best, it's clear he's the heart and soul of the Cavs on either end of the floor. So many fans wanted him gone after he crumbled against the physicality the New York Knicks threw at him in a humiliating first-round loss. But even though he doesn't have the flashiest game or the most outrageous counting stats, Allen is showing growth from last year's defeat, especially against the best big men the NBA has to offer.