# 1981–82 Cleveland Cavaliers season

The 1981–82 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 12th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Cavaliers finished 15-67 (.183) tying the lowest winning percentage in franchise history along with the 1970-71 team.

## Offseason
### Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 3 | 55 | Mickey Dillard | United States | Florida State |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Milwaukee Bucks | 55 | 27 | .671 | – | 31–10 | 24–17 | 24–6 |
| x-Atlanta Hawks | 42 | 40 | .512 | 13.0 | 24–17 | 18–23 | 15–14 |
| Detroit Pistons | 39 | 43 | .476 | 16.0 | 23–18 | 16–25 | 19–11 |
| Indiana Pacers | 35 | 47 | .427 | 20.0 | 25–16 | 10–31 | 14–16 |
| Chicago Bulls | 34 | 48 | .415 | 21.0 | 22–19 | 12–29 | 12–17 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 15 | 67 | .183 | 40.0 | 9–32 | 6–35 | 5–25 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Boston Celtics | 63 | 19 | .768 | – |
| 2 | y-Milwaukee Bucks | 55 | 27 | .671 | 8 |
| 3 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 58 | 24 | .707 | 5 |
| 4 | x-New Jersey Nets | 44 | 38 | .537 | 19 |
| 5 | x-Washington Bullets | 43 | 39 | .524 | 20 |
| 6 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 42 | 40 | .512 | 21 |
| 7 | Detroit Pistons | 39 | 43 | .476 | 24 |
| 8 | Indiana Pacers | 35 | 47 | .427 | 28 |
| 9 | Chicago Bulls | 34 | 48 | .415 | 29 |
| 10 | New York Knicks | 33 | 49 | .402 | 30 |
| 11 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 15 | 67 | .183 | 48 |

### Record vs. opponents

1981-82 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 |
| Boston | 5–1 | — | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 |
| Chicago | 3–2 | 2–4 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 0–5 | 1–5 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–5 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | — | 1–1 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 4–2 | 0–6 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 |
| Golden State | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 0–2 | — | 1–4 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 4–1 | — | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 |
| Kansas City | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 1–5 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
| Los Angeles | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 4–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
| New Jersey | 2–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | — | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| New York | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | — | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–5 |
| Philadelphia | 3–3 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 5–1 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | — | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–2 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | — | 3–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | — | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 5–1 | — | 5–0 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–5 | — | 1–1 |
| Washington | 4–2 | 0–6 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |

## Game log

1981–82 game log Total: 15–67 (Home: 9–32; Road: 6–35) :
October: 0–1 (home: 0–0; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
November: 4–10 (home: 2–4; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
12November 24, 1981@ Atlanta
L 92–94 (OT)
The Omni 4,697
4–8 :
December: 2–12 (home: 2–6; road: 0–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
19December 9, 1981Atlanta
W 112–108 (OT)
Coliseum at Richfield 3,144
5–14 :
January: 2–11 (home: 1–6; road: 1–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
31January 5, 1982@ Atlanta
L 103–113
The Omni 5,112
6–25
40January 23, 1982Atlanta
L 99–109
Coliseum at Richfield 4,551
7–33 :
February: 3–9 (home: 2–5; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
45February 6, 1982@ Atlanta
W 88–87
The Omni 10,094
11–34 :
March: 3–13 (home: 2–6; road: 1–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
April: 0–11 (home: 0–5; road: 0–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
79April 13, 1982Atlanta
L 111–119
Coliseum at Richfield 4,245
15–64 :
1981–82 schedule :

## Player stats

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Mike Mitchell | 27 | 26 | 36.0 | 45.4 | 0.0 | 72.0 | 5.2 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 19.6 |
| Ron Brewer | 47 | 41 | 36.7 | 46.5 | 23.8 | 77.9 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 19.4 |
| James Edwards | 77 | 75 | 33.0 | 51.1 | 0.0 | 68.4 | 7.5 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 16.7 |
| Cliff Robinson | 30 | 29 | 31.5 | 45.1 | 0.0 | 72.9 | 9.6 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 16.3 |
| Kenny Carr | 46 | 42 | 32.2 | 51.7 | 11.1 | 65.9 | 8.6 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 15.0 |
| Lowes Moore | 4 | 0 | 17.5 | 50.0 | 20.0 | 75.0 | 1.0 | 3.8 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 11.3 |
| James Silas | 67 | 34 | 21.6 | 43.8 | 0.0 | 86.0 | 1.6 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 11.2 |
| Bob Wilkerson | 65 | 38 | 27.8 | 41.8 | 16.7 | 78.4 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 11.0 |
| Scott Wedman | 54 | 39 | 30.3 | 44.1 | 21.7 | 73.3 | 5.6 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 10.9 |
| Phil Hubbard | 31 | 2 | 23.7 | 46.7 | 0.0 | 72.6 | 6.5 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 10.4 |
| Geoff Huston | 78 | 43 | 30.9 | 48.4 | 30.0 | 76.5 | 1.9 | 7.6 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 10.3 |
| Reggie Johnson | 23 | 22 | 26.8 | 53.7 | 0.0 | 79.5 | 5.4 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 9.7 |
| Roger Phegley | 27 | 8 | 21.0 | 48.6 | 30.8 | 80.0 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 9.2 |
| Bill Laimbeer | 50 | 4 | 17.9 | 47.0 | 50.0 | 77.5 | 5.5 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 6.7 |
| Richard Washington | 18 | 2 | 17.4 | 43.5 | 0.0 | 60.0 | 4.2 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 6.1 |
| Brad Branson | 10 | 3 | 17.6 | 40.4 | 0.0 | 91.7 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 5.3 |
| Mike Evans | 8 | 0 | 9.3 | 31.4 | 0.0 | 62.5 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 3.4 |
| Paul Mokeski | 28 | 1 | 12.3 | 42.7 | 0.0 | 76.7 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 3.3 |
| Keith Herron | 30 | 0 | 9.0 | 36.8 | 0.0 | 87.5 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 2.8 |
| Mickey Dillard | 33 | 0 | 6.7 | 36.7 | 0.0 | 65.2 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 2.2 |
| Mel Bennett | 3 | 0 | 7.7 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 16.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.7 |
| Kevin Restani | 34 | 0 | 9.9 | 38.3 | 0.0 | 58.3 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 1.6 |
| Don Ford | 21 | 1 | 9.6 | 37.5 | 0.0 | 83.3 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.1 |
Player Statistics Citation: