Cavaliers C Jarrett Allen has been ruled out for Game 6 of the first-round playoff series against Magic

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers will play Game 6 of their first-round NBA playoff series against the Orlando Magic without center Jarrett Allen, who sat out his second straight game Friday night because of a bruised rib.

Allen, who has been arguably the Cavs’ best player in the series, also missed Game 5, which Cleveland won 104-103 at home on Tuesday. He was injured when he was elbowed in the ribs during the second half of last weekend’s 23-point road loss in Game 4.

Cleveland has a 3-2 lead and can close the Eastern Conference series on Friday night with a victory over the Magic, who won Games 3 and 4 at home by a total of 61 points.

Game 7, if necessary, would be Sunday in Cleveland.

Allen traveled with the team to Orlando and his status remained uncertain 90 minutes before tip-off.

“We’ll see,” Cavs coach JB Bickerstaff said when asked if the 6-foot-1 center would play.

“It’s always about his safety,” Bickerstaff said when asked what made the team concerned about Allen playing. “When you have an injury to your core, your ability to change direction, get out of the way, move freely, play in the trenches like he does. We will always look out for Jarrett.”

Allen was Cleveland’s most consistent player in the series, averaging 17 points and 13.8 rebounds in four games.

With Allen out in Game 5, the Cavs moved Evan Mobley to center, started Isaac Okoro and gave reserves Tristan Thompson and Marcus Morris Sr. more playing time.

Morris gave the team a big lift off the bench with 12 points in Game 5.

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The Associated Press