# 1988–89 Cleveland Cavaliers season

The 1988-89 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 19th season of NBA basketball in Cleveland, Ohio. During the off-season, the team signed free agent Tree Rollins, and acquired Darnell Valentine from the expansion Miami Heat. The Cavaliers started the regular season with a 133–93 road win over the expansion Charlotte Hornets on November 4, 1988, which was the Hornets' first game in franchise history, then posted an 11-game winning streak between December and January, which led to a successful 24–5 start, held a 35–11 record at the All-Star break, and finished in second place in the Central Division with a 57–25 record, setting a franchise high; this record was tied for second best in the NBA along with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Mark Price and Brad Daugherty both led the team in scoring with 18.9 points per game each, while Price contributed 8.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game, while being selected to the All-NBA Third Team, and Daugherty averaged 9.2 rebounds per game. In addition, Ron Harper averaged 18.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game, while Larry Nance provided the team with 17.2 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, and sixth man Hot Rod Williams contributed 11.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game off the bench. Mike Sanders provided with 9.3 points per game, and Craig Ehlo contributed 7.4 points and 1.3 steals per game off the bench.
Price, Daugherty and Nance were all selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game in Houston, Texas, with head coach Lenny Wilkens coaching the Eastern Conference. Despite a stellar season, Harper was not selected for the All-Star Game. Price also finished in tenth place in Most Valuable Player voting, and Wilkens finished in third place in Coach of the Year voting.
In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Cavaliers were eliminated by Michael Jordan's 6th-seeded Chicago Bulls in five games, thanks to a memorable series-clinching shot by Jordan. Following the season, Sanders signed as a free agent with the Indiana Pacers.
Key Dates:

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 1 | 22 | Randolph Keys | Forward | United States | Southern Miss |
| 3 | 64 | Winston Bennett | Forward | United States | Kentucky |
* 1st round pick (#14) traded to Phoenix in Larry Nance deal. Used to draft Dan Majerle.
* 2nd round pick (#38) traded to Phoenix in Larry Nance deal. Used to draft Dean Garrett.

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Detroit Pistons | 63 | 19 | .768 | – | 37–4 | 26–15 | 20–10 |
| x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 57 | 25 | .695 | 6 | 37–4 | 20–21 | 19–11 |
| x-Atlanta Hawks | 52 | 30 | .634 | 11 | 33–8 | 19–22 | 20–10 |
| x-Milwaukee Bucks | 49 | 33 | .598 | 14 | 31–10 | 18–23 | 11–19 |
| x-Chicago Bulls | 47 | 35 | .573 | 16 | 30–11 | 17–24 | 12–18 |
| Indiana Pacers | 28 | 54 | .341 | 35 | 20–21 | 8–33 | 8–22 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Detroit Pistons | 63 | 19 | .768 | – |
| 2 | y-New York Knicks | 52 | 30 | .634 | 11 |
| 3 | x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 57 | 25 | .695 | 6 |
| 4 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 52 | 30 | .634 | 11 |
| 5 | x-Milwaukee Bucks | 49 | 33 | .598 | 14 |
| 6 | x-Chicago Bulls | 47 | 35 | .573 | 16 |
| 7 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 46 | 36 | .561 | 17 |
| 8 | x-Boston Celtics | 42 | 40 | .512 | 21 |
| 9 | Washington Bullets | 40 | 42 | .488 | 23 |
| 10 | Indiana Pacers | 28 | 54 | .341 | 35 |
| 11 | New Jersey Nets | 26 | 56 | .317 | 37 |
| 12 | Charlotte Hornets | 20 | 62 | .244 | 43 |
Notes
* z, y – division champions
* x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1988-89 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIA | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | – | 3–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Boston | 1–3 | – | 6–0 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| Charlotte | 1–4 | 0–6 | – | 1–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 |
| Chicago | 2–4 | 3–1 | 4–1 | – | 0–6 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 6–0 | – | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | – | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | – | 1–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | – | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 6–0 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
| Indiana | 1–5 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 1–1 | – | 1–5 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | – | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Miami | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | – | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
| Milwaukee | 0–6 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | – | 4–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 |
| New Jersey | 1–4 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | – | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 |
| New York | 2–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | – | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| Philadelphia | 2–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | – | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | – | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 0–5 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | – | 3–3 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | – | 2–2 | 1–5 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | – | 0–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–0 | – | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 1–3 | – | 2–0 |
| Washington | 1–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — |

## Game log

1988–89 game log Total: 57–25 (home: 37–4; road: 20–21) :
November: 8–3 (home: 4–1; road: 4–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1November 4, 1988@ Charlotte
2November 5, 1988@ Indiana
3November 9, 1988L.A. Clippers
4November 12, 1988Indiana
5November 15, 1988 8:00 pm ESTAtlanta
L 95–97
Daugherty (22)
Williams (11)
Price (10)
Richfield Coliseum 15,684
4–1
6November 18, 1988@ New Jersey
7November 19, 1988Milwaukee
8November 22, 1988@ Boston (at Hartford, CT)
9November 23, 1988@ Philadelphia
10November 26, 1988@ New York
11November 27, 1988Miami :
December: 12–2 (home: 8–1; road: 4–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
12December 1, 1988@ Milwaukee
13December 2, 1988Boston
14December 4, 1988Denver
15December 6, 1988@ Houston
16December 8, 1988@ San Antonio
17December 10, 1988@ Dallas
18December 13, 1988L.A. Lakers
19December 15, 1988Detroit
20December 17, 1988 7:30 pm ESTAtlanta
W 120–94
Price (23)
Daugherty, Harper (9)
Price (8)
Richfield Coliseum 18,815
15–5
21December 20, 1988Utah
22December 21, 1988@ Boston
23December 23, 1988Seattle
24December 27, 1988@ Chicago
25December 28, 1988Charlotte
26December 30, 1988Washington :
January: 11–4 (home: 7–0; road: 4–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
27January 3, 1989Indiana
28January 5, 1989Chicago
29January 7, 1989New York
30January 9, 1989@ Seattle
31January 11, 1989@ Phoenix
32January 13, 1989@ L.A. Lakers
33January 14, 1989@ Denver
34January 16, 1989Phoenix
35January 19, 1989@ Indiana
36January 21, 1989New Jersey
37January 23, 1989Golden State
38January 24, 1989 7:30 pm EST@ Atlanta
L 105–121
Nance (28)
Daugherty (9)
Price (9)
The Omni 16,371
30–8
39January 27, 1989@ Detroit
40January 29, 1989@ Washington (at Baltimore, MD)
41January 31, 1989Philadelphia :
February: 10–3 (home: 8–0; road: 2–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
42February 2, 1989@ New York
43February 3, 1989Sacramento
44February 5, 1989@ Charlotte
45February 7, 1989@ Milwaukee
46February 9, 1989Indiana
All-Star Break
47February 14, 1989@ Miami
48February 15, 1989New York
49February 17, 1989 8:00 pm EST@ Atlanta
L 100–108
Price (29)
Daugherty (13)
Harper (5)
The Omni 16,371
37–12
50February 18, 1989Philadelphia
51February 20, 1989Houston
52February 22, 1989New Jersey
53February 24, 1989Portland
54February 28, 1989Detroit :
March: 9–8 (home: 5–1; road: 4–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
55March 2, 1989San Antonio
56March 3, 1989@ Detroit
57March 5, 1989Milwaukee
58March 7, 1989@ Sacramento
59March 9, 1989@ Golden State
60March 10, 1989@ L.A. Clippers
61March 12, 1989@ Portland
62March 13, 1989@ Utah
63March 15, 1989Chicago
64March 19, 1989@ New Jersey
65March 20, 1989Washington
66March 22, 1989@ Philadelphia
67March 23, 1989Milwaukee
68March 25, 1989@ Milwaukee
69March 27, 1989@ Indiana
70March 28, 1989Dallas
71March 31, 1989@ Chicago :
April: 6–5 (home: 5–1; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
72April 2, 1989Boston
73April 4, 1989 7:30 pm EDTAtlanta
W 105–91
Harper (32)
Daugherty (17)
Price (13)
Richfield Coliseum 19,322
53–20
74April 7, 1989@ Washington
75April 9, 1989Charlotte
76April 11, 1989Philadelphia
77April 12, 1989@ Detroit
78April 14, 1989@ Boston
79April 16, 1989Chicago
80April 18, 1989Detroit
81April 21, 1989 7:30 pm EDT@ Atlanta
L 89–92
Harper (18)
Harper, Rollins (8)
Ehlo (8)
The Omni 16,371
56–25
82April 23, 1989@ Chicago :
1988–89 schedule :

## Playoffs

1989 playoff game log :
First round: 2–3 (home: 1–2; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 28
Chicago
L 88–95
Craig Ehlo (19)
Brad Daugherty (7)
Darnell Valentine (6)
Richfield Coliseum 19,312
0–1
2
April 30
Chicago
W 96–88
Ron Harper (31)
Ron Harper (11)
Larry Nance (5)
Richfield Coliseum 20,273
1–1
3
May 3
@ Chicago
L 94–101
Hot Rod Williams (22)
Hot Rod Williams (11)
Darnell Valentine (8)
Chicago Stadium 17,721
1–2
4
May 5
@ Chicago
W 108–105 (OT)
Larry Nance (27)
Brad Daugherty (17)
Mark Price (7)
Chicago Stadium 18,264
2–2
5
May 7
Chicago
L 100–101
Craig Ehlo (24)
Brad Daugherty (11)
Mark Price (7)
Richfield Coliseum 20,273
2–3 :
1989 schedule :

## Player stats
### Regular season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Mark Price | 75 | 74 | 36.4 | 52.6 | 44.1 | 90.1 | 3.0 | 8.4 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 18.9 |
| Brad Daugherty | 78 | 78 | 36.2 | 53.8 | 33.3 | 73.7 | 9.2 | 3.7 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 18.9 |
| Ron Harper | 82 | 82 | 34.8 | 51.1 | 25.0 | 75.1 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 18.6 |
| Larry Nance | 73 | 72 | 34.6 | 53.9 | 0.0 | 79.9 | 8.0 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 17.2 |
| Hot Rod Williams | 82 | 10 | 25.9 | 50.9 | 25.0 | 74.8 | 5.8 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 11.6 |
| Mike Sanders | 82 | 82 | 25.6 | 45.3 | 30.0 | 71.9 | 3.7 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 9.3 |
| Craig Ehlo | 82 | 4 | 22.8 | 47.5 | 39.0 | 60.7 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 7.4 |
| Darnell Valentine | 77 | 4 | 14.1 | 42.6 | 21.4 | 81.3 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 4.8 |
| Randolph Keys | 42 | 0 | 7.9 | 43.0 | 10.0 | 69.0 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 4.0 |
| Chris Dudley | 61 | 2 | 8.9 | 43.5 | 0.0 | 36.4 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 3.0 |
| Phil Hubbard | 31 | 0 | 6.2 | 44.4 | 0.0 | 68.0 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2.4 |
| Tree Rollins | 60 | 2 | 9.7 | 44.9 | 0.0 | 63.2 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 2.3 |

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Ron Harper | 5 | 5 | 37.8 | 56.5 | 0.0 | 76.9 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 19.6 |
| Larry Nance | 5 | 5 | 39.0 | 55.1 | 0.0 | 65.6 | 7.8 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 19.4 |
| Mark Price | 4 | 4 | 39.5 | 38.6 | 37.5 | 93.3 | 3.3 | 5.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 16.0 |
| Craig Ehlo | 4 | 1 | 24.3 | 43.6 | 38.5 | 81.8 | 1.5 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 12.0 |
| Brad Daugherty | 5 | 5 | 33.4 | 36.2 | 0.0 | 60.0 | 9.2 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 11.0 |
| Hot Rod Williams | 5 | 2 | 32.2 | 46.7 | 0.0 | 72.2 | 6.8 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 11.0 |
| Mike Sanders | 5 | 3 | 17.4 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 60.0 | 3.2 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 6.6 |
| Darnell Valentine | 5 | 0 | 16.0 | 35.0 | 0.0 | 87.5 | 1.4 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 4.2 |
| Tree Rollins | 5 | 0 | 14.8 | 75.0 | 0.0 | 60.0 | 3.2 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 3.0 |
| Randolph Keys | 1 | 0 | 12.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chris Dudley | 1 | 0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Phil Hubbard | 1 | 0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Player Statistics Citation:

## Awards and records
### Awards

* Mark Price, All-NBA Third Team
* Larry Nance, NBA All-Defensive First Team