1988–89 Cleveland Cavaliers season
| 1988–89 Cleveland Cavaliers season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Lenny Wilkens |
| General manager | Wayne Embry |
| Arena | Richfield Coliseum |
| Results | |
| Record | 57–25 (.695) |
| Place | Division: 2nd (Central) Conference: 3rd (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | First round (lost to Bulls 2–3) |
Stats at Basketball Reference | |
| Local media | |
| Television | WOIO (Joe Tait, Jim Chones) |
| Radio | WRMR (Joe Tait, Jim Johnson) |
The 1988–89 NBA season was the 19th season for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the National Basketball Association. 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, and held a 35–11 record at the All-Star break. The team finished in second place in the Central Division with a franchise-best 57–25 record, earning the #3 seed in the Eastern Conference; their record was tied for second-best in the NBA along with the Los Angeles Lakers during the regular season.
Brad Daugherty averaged 18.9 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, while Mark Price averaged 18.9 points, 8.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game, led the Cavaliers with 93 three-point field goals, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team. In addition, Ron Harper contributed 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 averaged 11.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game off the bench. Meanwhile, 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, while Daugherty finished tied in eleventh place and Nance finished tied in thirteenth place, Williams finished tied in sixth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, and Wilkens finished in third place in Coach of the Year voting.
However, in the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1989 NBA playoffs, the Cavaliers were eliminated by Michael Jordan and the 6th-seeded Chicago Bulls in five games, thanks to a memorable series-clinching shot by Jordan in Game 5, where the Bulls defeated the Cavaliers at the Coliseum at Richfield, 101–100. Following the season, Sanders signed as a free agent with the Indiana Pacers.
Key Dates: