# 1986–87 Cleveland Cavaliers season

The 1986–87 NBA season was the Cavaliers' 17th season in the NBA.
The season saw the team draft Brad Daugherty and Ron Harper with the first and eighth overall picks, respectively. Future four-time All-Star Mark Price was brought in from Dallas, who drafted him in the second round of the draft.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 1 | 1 | Brad Daugherty | C | United States | North Carolina |
| 1 | 8 | Ron Harper | G/SF | United States | Miami (OH) |
| 2 | 29 | Johnny Newman | SF | United States | Richmond |
| 3 | 50 | Kevin Henderson | | United States | California State-Fullerton |
| 4 | 73 | Warren Martin | | United States | North Carolina |
| 5 | 96 | Ben Davis | | United States | Gardner-Webb |
| 6 | 119 | Gilbert Wilburn | | United States | New Mexico State |
| 7 | 142 | Ralph Dalton | | United States | Georgetown |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Atlanta Hawks | 57 | 25 | .695 | – | 35–6 | 22–19 | 17–13 |
| x-Detroit Pistons | 52 | 30 | .634 | 5 | 32–9 | 20–21 | 17–13 |
| x-Milwaukee Bucks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 7 | 32–9 | 18–23 | 17–13 |
| x-Indiana Pacers | 41 | 41 | .500 | 16 | 28–13 | 13–28 | 13–16 |
| x-Chicago Bulls | 40 | 42 | .488 | 17 | 29–12 | 11–30 | 17–12 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 31 | 51 | .378 | 26 | 25–16 | 6–35 | 8–22 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Boston Celtics | 59 | 23 | .720 | – |
| 2 | y-Atlanta Hawks | 57 | 25 | .695 | 2 |
| 3 | x-Detroit Pistons | 52 | 30 | .634 | 7 |
| 4 | x-Milwaukee Bucks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 9 |
| 5 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 14 |
| 6 | x-Washington Bullets | 42 | 40 | .512 | 17 |
| 7 | x-Indiana Pacers | 41 | 41 | .500 | 18 |
| 8 | x-Chicago Bulls | 40 | 42 | .488 | 19 |
| 9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 31 | 51 | .378 | 28 |
| 10 | New Jersey Nets | 24 | 58 | .293 | 35 |
| 11 | New York Knicks | 24 | 58 | .293 | 35 |
    z - clinched division title
    y - clinched division title
    x - clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1986-87 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | – | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 |
| Boston | 3–3 | – | 6–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Chicago | 2–4 | 0–6 | – | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–5 | – | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | – | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | – | 0–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 3–3 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–4 | 1–1 | – | 4–1 | 0–2 | 6–0 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–4 | – | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Indiana | 3–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | – | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 1–4 | 0–2 | – | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | – | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 |
| New Jersey | 0–5 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | – | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| New York | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | – | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| Philadelphia | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 2–4 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 4–1 | 0–2 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | – | 3–2 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | – | 3–3 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 3–3 | – | 1–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 4–1 | – | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–3 | – | 1–1 |
| Washington | 0–5 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |

### Game log

1986–87 game log Total: 31–51 (Home: 25–16; Road: 6–35) :
November: 5–9 (home: 2–2; road: 3–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
2November 2, 1986Chicago
4November 7, 1986@ Golden State
8November 15, 1986@ Dallas
9November 16, 1986@ Houston
10November 19, 1986Golden State
11November 20, 1986@ Atlanta
L 89–108
The Omni 8,547
3–8
12November 22, 1986@ Detroit :
December
: 8–7 (home: 7–3; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
16December 4, 1986Detroit
17December 6, 1986Boston
18December 9, 1986Atlanta
L 98–122
Coliseum at Richfield 10,276
8–10
25December 23, 1986@ Chicago
28December 29, 1986Atlanta
W 107–106
Coliseum at Richfield 15,458
13–15 :
January
: 5–11 (home: 5–5; road: 0–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
32January 6, 1987Chicago
34January 10, 1987@ Atlanta
L 104–129
The Omni 15,649
14–20
35January 13, 1987Detroit
36January 14, 1987@ Detroit
37January 16, 1987@ Boston
39January 19, 1987Houston
41January 23, 1987@ Chicago
42January 24, 1987Chicago
44January 29, 1987Atlanta
W 102–91
Coliseum at Richfield 10,569
17–27 :
February
: 5–7 (home: 4–1; road: 1–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
46February 4, 1987@ Boston
49February 12, 1987Detroit
54February 22, 1987Chicago
56February 25, 1987@ Detroit
57February 28, 1987@ Denver :
March
: 4–12 (home: 3–4; road: 1–8)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
67March 18, 1987Denver
70March 24, 1987vs. Boston (at Hartford, CT)
72March 29, 1987Dallas :
April
: 4–5 (home: 4–1; road: 0–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
76April 6, 1987@ Atlanta
L 105–110
The Omni 8,459
27–49
77April 7, 1987 :
1986–87 schedule :

## Player statistics

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Ron Harper | 82 | 82 | 37.4 | 45.5 | 21.3 | 68.4 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 22.9 |
| Brad Daugherty | 80 | 80 | 33.7 | 53.8 | 0.0 | 69.6 | 8.1 | 3.8 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 15.7 |
| Hot Rod Williams | 80 | 80 | 33.9 | 48.5 | 0.0 | 74.5 | 7.9 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 14.6 |
| Phil Hubbard | 68 | 68 | 30.6 | 53.1 | 0.0 | 59.6 | 5.7 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 11.8 |
| John Bagley | 72 | 67 | 30.3 | 42.6 | 30.1 | 83.1 | 3.5 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 10.7 |
| Mark Price | 67 | 0 | 18.2 | 40.8 | 32.9 | 83.3 | 1.7 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 6.9 |
| Mark West | 78 | 13 | 17.1 | 54.3 | 0.0 | 51.4 | 4.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 6.5 |
| Craig Ehlo | 44 | 15 | 20.2 | 41.4 | 17.2 | 70.7 | 3.7 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 6.2 |
| Keith Lee | 67 | 1 | 13.0 | 45.5 | 0.0 | 71.3 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 6.1 |
| Melvin Turpin | 64 | 1 | 12.5 | 46.2 | 0.0 | 71.4 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 6.1 |
| Johnny Newman | 59 | 0 | 10.7 | 41.1 | 4.5 | 86.8 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 5.0 |
| Tyrone Corbin | 32 | 0 | 13.7 | 36.8 | 25.0 | 73.7 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 4.0 |
| Scooter McCray | 24 | 2 | 11.6 | 46.2 | 0.0 | 48.8 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 3.3 |
| Ben Poquette | 37 | 1 | 11.8 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 79.5 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 3.1 |
| Dirk Minniefield | 11 | 0 | 11.1 | 31.0 | 0.0 | 25.0 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 2.5 |
Player Statistics Citation:

## Awards and records

* Brad Daugherty, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team
* Ron Harper, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team
* John "Hot Rod" Williams, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team