The 2018-19 Cleveland Cavaliers season marked a significant transition phase for the franchise. Following the departure of LeBron James to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Cavaliers struggled to find their identity and competitiveness on the court. Under the guidance of head coach Tyronn Lue, who was eventually replaced by Larry Drew after a 0-6 start, the team faced challenges throughout the season.
The Cavaliers ended the regular season with a 19-63 record, placing them 14th in the Eastern Conference. This outcome was a stark contrast to their previous seasons as title contenders. Key players such as Kevin Love, who was plagued by injuries and limited to just 22 games, were unable to fill the void left by James. Rookie Collin Sexton showed promise, averaging 16.7 points per game, and was a bright spot in an otherwise difficult season.
The team was active in rebuilding and made several roster changes. Notably, veterans like Kyle Korver and George Hill were traded, signaling a focus on younger talent and future draft picks. Despite the challenging season, the Cavaliers aimed to lay the groundwork for future success by developing their young core and acquiring assets for long-term growth.
The 2018-19 season served as a rebuilding year for the Cavaliers, highlighting the team’s need to rebuild and strategize for future success without their former superstar, LeBron James.
- Regular Season Record: 19-63
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats for 2018-19 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Kevin Love | 22 | 17.0 | 10.9 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 36.1 | |||||||
| Jordan Clarkson | 81 | 16.8 | 3.3 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 32.4 | |||||||
| Collin Sexton | 82 | 16.7 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 40.2 | |||||||
| Cedi Osman | 76 | 13.0 | 4.7 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 34.8 | |||||||
| Rodney Hood | 45 | 12.2 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 36.2 | |||||||
| Alec Burks | 34 | 11.6 | 5.5 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 37.8 | |||||||
| Tristan Thompson | 43 | 10.9 | 10.2 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | |||||||
| George Hill | 13 | 10.8 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 46.4 | |||||||
| Larry Nance Jr. | 67 | 9.4 | 8.2 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 33.7 | |||||||
| Brandon Knight | 27 | 8.5 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 37.1 | |||||||
| Cameron Payne | 9 | 8.2 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 36.0 | |||||||
| Ante Žižić | 59 | 7.8 | 5.4 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Matthew Dellavedova | 36 | 7.3 | 1.9 | 4.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 33.6 | |||||||
| Kyle Korver | 16 | 6.8 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 46.3 | |||||||
| J.R. Smith | 11 | 6.7 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 30.8 | |||||||
| David Nwaba | 51 | 6.5 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 32.0 | |||||||
| Sam Dekker | 9 | 6.3 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 38.5 | |||||||
| Marquese Chriss | 27 | 5.7 | 4.2 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 26.3 | |||||||
| Nik Stauskas | 24 | 5.5 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 42.9 | |||||||
| Jalen Jones | 16 | 5.1 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 35.7 | |||||||
| Andrew Harrison | 10 | 4.3 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 21.4 | |||||||
| Jaron Blossomgame | 27 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 25.6 | |||||||
| Channing Frye | 36 | 3.6 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 40.5 | |||||||
| Deng Adel | 19 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 26.1 | |||||||
| Patrick McCaw | 3 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 25.0 | |||||||
| Kobi Simmons | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| John Holland | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Cleveland Cavaliers 2018-19 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2018-19 season for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 17, 2018 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 116-104 | |
| Oct 19, 2018 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 131-123 | |
| Oct 21, 2018 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 133-111 | |
| Oct 24, 2018 | vs. Brooklyn Nets | L 102-86 | |
| Oct 25, 2018 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 110-103 | |
| Oct 27, 2018 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 119-107 | |
| Oct 30, 2018 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 136-114 | |
| Nov 01, 2018 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 110-91 | |
| Nov 03, 2018 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 126-94 | |
| Nov 05, 2018 | @ Orlando Magic | L 102-100 | |
| Nov 07, 2018 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | L 95-86 | |
| Nov 10, 2018 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 99-98 | |
| Nov 13, 2018 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 113-89 | |
| Nov 14, 2018 | @ Washington Wizards | L 119-95 | |
| Nov 19, 2018 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 113-102 | |
| Nov 21, 2018 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 109-105 | |
| Nov 23, 2018 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 121-112 | |
| Nov 24, 2018 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 117-108 | |
| Nov 26, 2018 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 102-95 | |
| Nov 28, 2018 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | L 100-83 | |
| Nov 30, 2018 | @ Boston Celtics | L 128-95 | |
| Dec 01, 2018 | vs. Toronto Raptors | L 106-95 | |
| Dec 03, 2018 | @ Brooklyn Nets | W 99-97 | |
| Dec 05, 2018 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 129-105 | |
| Dec 07, 2018 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 129-110 | |
| Dec 08, 2018 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 116-101 | |
| Dec 10, 2018 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 108-92 | |
| Dec 12, 2018 | vs. New York Knicks | W 113-106 | |
| Dec 14, 2018 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 114-102 | |
| Dec 16, 2018 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 128-105 | |
| Dec 18, 2018 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 92-91 | |
| Dec 19, 2018 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 110-99 | |
| Dec 21, 2018 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 126-110 | |
| Dec 23, 2018 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 112-92 | |
| Dec 26, 2018 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 95-87 | |
| Dec 28, 2018 | @ Miami Heat | L 118-94 | |
| Dec 29, 2018 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 111-108 | |
| Jan 02, 2019 | vs. Miami Heat | L 117-92 | |
| Jan 04, 2019 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 117-91 | |
| Jan 05, 2019 | vs. New Orleans Pelicans | L 133-98 | |
| Jan 08, 2019 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 123-115 | |
| Jan 09, 2019 | @ New Orleans Pelicans | L 140-124 | |
| Jan 11, 2019 | @ Houston Rockets | L 141-113 | |
| Jan 13, 2019 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 101-95 | |
| Jan 16, 2019 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 129-112 | |
| Jan 18, 2019 | @ Utah Jazz | L 115-99 | |
| Jan 19, 2019 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 124-102 | |
| Jan 21, 2019 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 104-88 | |
| Jan 23, 2019 | @ Boston Celtics | L 123-103 | |
| Jan 25, 2019 | vs. Miami Heat | L 100-94 | |
| Jan 27, 2019 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 104-101 | |
| Jan 29, 2019 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 116-113 | |
| Feb 02, 2019 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 111-98 | |
| Feb 05, 2019 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 103-96 | |
| Feb 08, 2019 | @ Washington Wizards | L 119-106 | |
| Feb 09, 2019 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 105-90 | |
| Feb 11, 2019 | vs. New York Knicks | W 107-104 | |
| Feb 13, 2019 | vs. Brooklyn Nets | L 148-139 | |
| Feb 21, 2019 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 111-98 | |
| Feb 23, 2019 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 112-107 | |
| Feb 25, 2019 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 123-110 | |
| Feb 28, 2019 | @ New York Knicks | W 125-118 | |
| Mar 02, 2019 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 129-93 | |
| Mar 03, 2019 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 107-93 | |
| Mar 06, 2019 | @ Brooklyn Nets | L 113-107 | |
| Mar 08, 2019 | @ Miami Heat | L 126-110 | |
| Mar 11, 2019 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 126-101 | |
| Mar 12, 2019 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 106-99 | |
| Mar 14, 2019 | @ Orlando Magic | L 120-91 | |
| Mar 16, 2019 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 121-116 | |
| Mar 18, 2019 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 126-119 | |
| Mar 20, 2019 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 107-102 | |
| Mar 22, 2019 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 110-108 | |
| Mar 24, 2019 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 127-105 | |
| Mar 26, 2019 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 116-106 | |
| Mar 28, 2019 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 116-110 | |
| Mar 30, 2019 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 132-108 | |
| Apr 01, 2019 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 122-113 | |
| Apr 04, 2019 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 117-104 | |
| Apr 05, 2019 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 120-114 | |
| Apr 07, 2019 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 112-90 | |
| Apr 09, 2019 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 124-97 |