The 1988-89 Cleveland Cavaliers season marked a significant turnaround for the franchise, as they finished with an impressive 57-25 record. Under head coach Lenny Wilkens, the team showcased a strong blend of young talent and veteran leadership, solidifying their position as a formidable force in the NBA’s Central Division.
Key players like Brad Daugherty, Mark Price, and Larry Nance were instrumental in the Cavaliers’ success. Brad Daugherty, the team’s center, averaged 18.9 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, while point guard Mark Price contributed significantly with 18.9 points and 8.4 assists per game. Larry Nance, acquired in a trade during the previous season, added defensive prowess and scoring ability, averaging 17.2 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.
The Cavaliers’ performance earned them the third seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. In the first round, they faced the Chicago Bulls, led by a young Michael Jordan. The series was fiercely contested, going to a decisive fifth game. In a memorable moment, Michael Jordan hit “The Shot” over Craig Ehlo, clinching a 101-100 victory for the Bulls and ending the Cavaliers’ promising season.
Despite the disappointing playoff exit, the 1988-89 season laid the groundwork for future success. The Cavaliers’ strong roster and cohesive play established them as a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference, setting the stage for continued competitiveness in the years to come.
- Regular Season Record: 57-25
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 2-3
Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats for 1988-89 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Brad Daugherty | 78 | 18.9 | 9.2 | 3.7 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 33.2 | 5 | 11.0 | 9.2 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Mark Price | 75 | 18.9 | 3.0 | 8.4 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 44.1 | 4 | 16.0 | 3.3 | 5.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 37.5 |
| Ron Harper | 82 | 18.6 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 25.0 | 5 | 19.6 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Larry Nance | 73 | 17.2 | 8.0 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 5 | 19.4 | 7.8 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 0.0 |
| Hot Rod Williams | 82 | 11.6 | 5.8 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 25.0 | 5 | 11.0 | 6.8 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| Mike Sanders | 82 | 9.3 | 3.7 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 30.0 | 5 | 6.6 | 3.2 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Craig Ehlo | 82 | 7.4 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 39.0 | 4 | 12.0 | 1.5 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 38.5 |
| Darnell Valentine | 77 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 21.5 | 5 | 4.2 | 1.4 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Randolph Keys | 42 | 4.0 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 10.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chris Dudley | 61 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Phil Hubbard | 31 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tree Rollins | 60 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 5 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1989 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Chicago Bulls
In the 1989 NBA Playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers faced a heart-wrenching defeat in the first round against the Chicago Bulls, highlighted by Michael Jordan's iconic u0022The Shotu0022 over Craig Ehlo in Game 5. Despite having a strong regular season, the Cavaliers were unable to capitalize on their home-court advantage, losing the series 3-2 in one of the most memorable moments in NBA history. This defeat was a significant setback for Cleveland, as they had been considered title contenders that year.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 28, 1989 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 95-88 | |
| Apr 30, 1989 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 96-88 | |
| May 03, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 101-94 | |
| May 05, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 108-105 | |
| May 07, 1989 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 101-100 |
Cleveland Cavaliers 1988-89 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1988-89 season for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 04, 1988 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 133-93 | |
| Nov 05, 1988 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 105-99 | |
| Nov 09, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 108-91 | |
| Nov 12, 1988 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 121-96 | |
| Nov 15, 1988 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 97-95 | |
| Nov 18, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 95-94 | |
| Nov 19, 1988 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 106-99 | |
| Nov 22, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | W 114-102 | |
| Nov 23, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 104-91 | |
| Nov 26, 1988 | @ New York Knicks | L 127-112 | |
| Nov 27, 1988 | vs. Miami Heat | W 109-80 | |
| Dec 01, 1988 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 99-96 | |
| Dec 02, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 112-84 | |
| Dec 04, 1988 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 122-103 | |
| Dec 06, 1988 | @ Houston Rockets | L 106-105 | |
| Dec 08, 1988 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 104-95 | |
| Dec 10, 1988 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 102-98 | |
| Dec 13, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 111-102 | |
| Dec 15, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 119-98 | |
| Dec 17, 1988 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 120-94 | |
| Dec 20, 1988 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 110-94 | |
| Dec 21, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | W 115-114 | |
| Dec 23, 1988 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 119-107 | |
| Dec 27, 1988 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 107-96 | |
| Dec 28, 1988 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 122-98 | |
| Dec 30, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 127-110 | |
| Jan 03, 1989 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 119-98 | |
| Jan 05, 1989 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 103-98 | |
| Jan 07, 1989 | vs. New York Knicks | W 104-96 | |
| Jan 09, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 105-103 | |
| Jan 11, 1989 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 124-121 | |
| Jan 13, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 116-95 | |
| Jan 14, 1989 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 116-104 | |
| Jan 16, 1989 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 126-110 | |
| Jan 19, 1989 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 113-106 | |
| Jan 21, 1989 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 115-103 | |
| Jan 23, 1989 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 142-109 | |
| Jan 24, 1989 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 121-105 | |
| Jan 27, 1989 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 80-79 | |
| Jan 29, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | L 122-117 | |
| Jan 31, 1989 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 118-103 | |
| Feb 02, 1989 | @ New York Knicks | L 125-109 | |
| Feb 03, 1989 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 110-94 | |
| Feb 05, 1989 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 110-91 | |
| Feb 07, 1989 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 115-106 | |
| Feb 09, 1989 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 108-99 | |
| Feb 14, 1989 | @ Miami Heat | W 109-98 | |
| Feb 15, 1989 | vs. New York Knicks | W 129-107 | |
| Feb 17, 1989 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 108-100 | |
| Feb 18, 1989 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 118-100 | |
| Feb 20, 1989 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 110-90 | |
| Feb 22, 1989 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 130-111 | |
| Feb 24, 1989 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 128-91 | |
| Feb 28, 1989 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 115-99 | |
| Mar 02, 1989 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 112-84 | |
| Mar 03, 1989 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 96-90 | |
| Mar 05, 1989 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 103-98 | |
| Mar 07, 1989 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 105-95 | |
| Mar 09, 1989 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 120-114 | |
| Mar 10, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 105-103 | |
| Mar 12, 1989 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 123-110 | |
| Mar 13, 1989 | @ Utah Jazz | L 98-83 | |
| Mar 15, 1989 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 115-91 | |
| Mar 19, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 101-91 | |
| Mar 20, 1989 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 103-97 | |
| Mar 22, 1989 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 100-97 | |
| Mar 23, 1989 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 102-88 | |
| Mar 25, 1989 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 113-105 | |
| Mar 27, 1989 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 104-102 | |
| Mar 28, 1989 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 102-90 | |
| Mar 31, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 109-100 | |
| Apr 02, 1989 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 117-100 | |
| Apr 04, 1989 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 105-91 | |
| Apr 07, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | L 107-96 | |
| Apr 09, 1989 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 122-116 | |
| Apr 11, 1989 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 92-90 | |
| Apr 12, 1989 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 107-95 | |
| Apr 14, 1989 | @ Boston Celtics | L 113-104 | |
| Apr 16, 1989 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 111-92 | |
| Apr 18, 1989 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 118-102 | |
| Apr 21, 1989 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 92-89 | |
| Apr 23, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 90-84 |