# 1975–76 Cleveland Cavaliers season

The 1975–76 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the sixth season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). This season marked their first winning record, their first division title, their first playoffs appearances and their first conference finals in history. The season is referred to as the "Miracle at Richfield" season for this reason, and helped propel local interest in the Cavaliers as almost every playoff game was sold-out and regular game attendance would rise in the coming seasons.

## Season standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Cleveland Cavaliers | 49 | 33 | .598 | – | 29–12 | 20–21 | 15–11 |
| x-Washington Bullets | 48 | 34 | .585 | 1 | 31–10 | 17–24 | 14–12 |
| Houston Rockets | 40 | 42 | .488 | 9 | 27–13 | 13–29 | 14–12 |
| New Orleans Jazz | 38 | 44 | .463 | 11 | 22–19 | 16–25 | 15–11 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 29 | 53 | .354 | 20 | 20–21 | 9–32 | 7–19 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Boston Celtics | 54 | 28 | .659 | – |
| 2 | y-Cleveland Cavaliers | 49 | 33 | .598 | 5 |
| 3 | x-Washington Bullets | 48 | 34 | .585 | 6 |
| 4 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 46 | 36 | .561 | 8 |
| 5 | x-Buffalo Braves | 46 | 36 | .561 | 8 |
| 6 | Houston Rockets | 40 | 42 | .488 | 14 |
| 7 | New York Knicks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 16 |
| 8 | New Orleans Jazz | 38 | 44 | .463 | 16 |
| 9 | Atlanta Hawks | 29 | 53 | .354 | 25 |

### Record vs. opponents

1975–76 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CLE | DET | GSW | HOU | KCK | LAL | MIL | NOJ | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SEA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–5 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–5 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–5 |
| Boston | 3–2 | — | 4–3 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 5–2 | 4–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–2 |
| Buffalo | 3–2 | 3–4 | — | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 4–3 | 3–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–3 |
| Chicago | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 0–4 | 3–4 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 1–6 | 3–2 | 3–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 0–4 |
| Cleveland | 5–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 4–0 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–3 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–2 |
| Detroit | 3–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 4–3 | 2–2 | — | 0–5 | 2–2 | 5–2 | 1–4 | 3–4 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–2 |
| Golden State | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 5–0 | — | 2–2 | 4–1 | 5–2 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 4–3 | 3–1 |
| Houston | 5–2 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–4 |
| Kansas City | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 6–1 | 3–1 | 2–5 | 1–4 | 2–2 | — | 2–3 | 2–5 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 1–3 |
| Los Angeles | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–5 | 3–1 | 3–2 | — | 2–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 1–3 |
| Milwaukee | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–3 | 0–4 | 4–3 | 0–5 | 2–2 | 5–2 | 3–2 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–2 |
| New Orleans | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 3–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | — | 2–3 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–3 |
| New York | 2–3 | 2–5 | 3–4 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–2 | — | 5–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 3–2 |
| Philadelphia | 3–2 | 3–4 | 4–3 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–5 | — | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–3 |
| Phoenix | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 5–2 | 4–3 | 0–4 |
| Portland | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 0–4 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 5–0 | 4–3 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–5 | — | 3–3 | 2–2 |
| Seattle | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 3–4 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–4 | 3–3 | — | 1–3 |
| Washington | 5–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–4 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — |

### Game log

1975–76 game log Total: 49–33 (Home: 29–12; Road: 20–21) :
October: 1–2 (home: 1–1; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1October 23, 1975Golden State
2October 25, 1975@ New York
3October 30, 1975Chicago :
November: 6–9 (home: 1–5; road: 5–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
4November 1, 1975New Orleans
5November 4, 1975@ Washington
6November 6, 1975 8:05 PM EST@ Atlanta
W 113–108
Snyder (25)
The Omni 3,761
2–4
7November 7, 1975@ New Orleans
8November 8, 1975@ Houston
9November 11, 1975@ Golden State
10November 14, 1975@ Seattle
11November 15, 1975@ Portland
12November 18, 1975Houston
13November 20, 1975Buffalo
14November 22, 1975@ New York
15November 23, 1975Boston
16November 25, 1975@ Chicago
17November 27, 1975Kansas City
18November 29, 1975Seattle :
December: 11–4 (home: 6–1; road: 5–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
19December 2, 1975Portland
20December 4, 1975@ Kansas City
21December 5, 1975@ Buffalo
22December 9, 1975@ Philadelphia
23December 11, 1975New York
24December 12, 1975@ Milwaukee
25December 13, 1975New Orleans
26December 16, 1975@ Los Angeles
27December 17, 1975@ Seattle
28December 19, 1975@ Phoenix
29December 21, 1975Los Angeles
30December 26, 1975 8:00 PM ESTAtlanta
L 97–98
Russell, Walker (17)
Coliseum at Richfield 19,832
15–15
31December 27, 1975@ Washington
32December 28, 1975Buffalo
33December 30, 1975Kansas City :
January: 9–6 (home: 7–2; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
34January 2, 1976@ Philadelphia
35January 3, 1976Detroit
36January 7, 1976@ Detroit
37January 8, 1976Philadelphia
38January 10, 1976 8:05 PM EST@ Atlanta
W 106–100
Russell (18)
The Omni 5,766
20–18
39January 11, 1976Washington
40January 14, 1976@ Washington
41January 15, 1976 8:00 PM ESTAtlanta
L 91–98
Smith (30)
Coliseum at Richfield 8,364
21–20
42January 17, 1976Phoenix
43January 20, 1976Boston
44January 22, 1976Seattle
45January 24, 1976Milwaukee
46January 27, 1976Detroit
47January 28, 1976@ Houston
48January 30, 1976@ Chicago :
February: 9–2 (home: 5–0; road: 4–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
49February 1, 1976@ New Orleans
All-Star Break
50February 6, 1976@ Philadelphia
51February 8, 1976Washington
52February 12, 1976Chicago
53February 13, 1976@ Milwaukee
54February 14, 1976@ Buffalo
55February 17, 1976 8:00 PM ESTAtlanta
W 112–92
Russell (23)
Coliseum at Richfield 10,417
33–22
56February 19, 1976Portland
57February 22, 1976Houston
58February 23, 1976@ Houston
59February 25, 1976@ Detroit
60February 29, 1976@ Los Angeles :
March: 9–7 (home: 6–2; road: 3–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
61March 3, 1976@ Phoenix
62March 5, 1976@ Portland
63March 6, 1976@ Golden State
64March 11, 1976Golden State
65March 13, 1976Phoenix
66March 16, 1976Los Angeles
67March 18, 1976Philadelphia
68March 19, 1976@ New Orleans
69March 20, 1976 8:05 PM EST@ Atlanta
W 113–108
Chones, Cleamons (20)
The Omni 3,761
41–28
70March 21, 1976Washington
71March 25, 1976Buffalo
72March 26, 1976@ Boston
73March 27, 1976Milwaukee
74March 30, 1976Houston
75March 31, 1976@ New Orleans :
April: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
76April 1, 1976Boston
77April 3, 1976@ Kansas City
78April 4, 1976 3:00 PM ESTAtlanta
W 120–92
Carr (27)
Coliseum at Richfield 8,439
46–32
79April 6, 1976@ Boston
80April 8, 1976New Orleans
81April 10, 1976New York
82April 11, 1976@ New York :
1975–76 schedule :

## Playoffs

1976 playoff game log :
Conference Semifinals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 13
Washington
L 95–100
Jim Chones (23)
Campy Russell (11)
Jim Cleamons (8)
Richfield Coliseum 19,974
0–1
2
April 15
@ Washington
W 80–79
Bingo Smith (17)
Nate Thurmond (10)
Bingo Smith (4)
Capital Centre 17,988
1–1
3
April 17
Washington
W 88–76
Smith, Carr (17)
Jim Brewer (12)
Jim Brewer (6)
Richfield Coliseum 21,061
2–1
4
April 21
@ Washington
L 98–109
Campy Russell (22)
Jim Brewer (10)
Foots Walker (6)
Capital Centre 17,542
2–2
5
April 22
Washington
W 92–91
Dick Snyder (26)
Jim Brewer (12)
Cleamons, Snyder (4)
Richfield Coliseum 21,312
3–2
6
April 25
@ Washington
L 98–102 (OT)
Austin Carr (27)
Jim Brewer (12)
Cleamons, Carr (5)
Capital Centre 19,035
3–3
7
April 29
Washington
W 87–85
Dick Snyder (23)
Jim Brewer (16)
Jim Cleamons (6)
Richfield Coliseum 21,564
4–3 :
Conference Finals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 5
@ Boston
L 99–111
Snyder, Russell (21)
Nate Thurmond (16)
Jim Cleamons (6)
Boston Garden 14,264
0–1
2
May 9
@ Boston
L 89–94
Snyder, Smith (16)
Jim Brewer (9)
Foots Walker (6)
Boston Garden 12,098
0–2
3
May 11
Boston
W 83–78
Jim Cleamons (18)
Jim Brewer (15)
Nate Thurmond (6)
Richfield Coliseum 21,564
1–2
4
May 14
Boston
W 106–87
Bingo Smith (27)
Jim Brewer (11)
Jim Cleamons (8)
Richfield Coliseum 21,564
2–2
5
May 16
@ Boston
L 94–99
Jim Cleamons (18)
Nate Thurmond (10)
Cleamons, Smith (4)
Boston Garden 12,951
2–3
6
May 18
Boston
L 87–94
Austin Carr (26)
Nate Thurmond (14)
Thurmond, Cleamons (5)
Richfield Coliseum 21,564
2–4 :
1976 schedule :
Games 5 and 7 in the conference semifinal were both won by the Cavaliers on last-second shots. Jim Cleamons hit a layup as time expired in Game 5 and Dick Snyder hit a shot with four seconds left to win Game 7.

## Awards and records

* Bill Fitch, NBA Coach of the Year
* Jim Cleamons, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
* Jim Brewer, NBA All-Defensive Second Team