The 2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers season marked a pivotal chapter in the franchise’s history. Under the leadership of head coach Tyronn Lue, who took over midway through the season from David Blatt, the Cavaliers finished the regular season with a 57-25 record, securing the first seed in the Eastern Conference. The team was spearheaded by LeBron James, who was in his second season back with Cleveland after returning from Miami, alongside key players like Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.
In the playoffs, the Cavaliers demonstrated dominance in the Eastern Conference. They swept the Detroit Pistons in the first round and continued their unbeaten run in the conference semifinals by defeating the Atlanta Hawks 4-0. The Eastern Conference Finals saw Cleveland face the Toronto Raptors, where they triumphed in six games, earning their second consecutive NBA Finals appearance.
The NBA Finals pitted the Cavaliers against the Golden State Warriors, who set a record with 73 wins in the regular season. After falling behind 3-1 in the series, the Cavaliers made a historic comeback, winning three consecutive games. This remarkable feat culminated in a Game 7 victory in Oakland, with a score of 93-89, securing the franchise’s first-ever NBA Championship. LeBron James was instrumental throughout the series and was named the Finals MVP, solidifying his legacy in Cleveland and delivering on his promise to bring a championship to the city. This victory ended Cleveland’s 52-year major sports championship drought.
- Regular Season Record: 57-25
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 4-0, Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4-0, Eastern Conference Finals: 4-2, NBA Finals: 4-3
Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats for 2015-16 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| LeBron James | 76 | 25.3 | 7.4 | 6.8 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 30.9 | 21 | 26.3 | 9.5 | 7.6 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 34.0 |
| Kyrie Irving | 53 | 19.6 | 3.0 | 4.7 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 32.1 | 21 | 25.2 | 3.0 | 4.7 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 44.0 |
| Kevin Love | 77 | 16.0 | 9.9 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 36.0 | 20 | 14.6 | 8.8 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 41.4 |
| Dahntay Jones | 1 | 13.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 50.0 | 15 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 33.3 |
| J.R. Smith | 77 | 12.4 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 40.0 | 21 | 11.5 | 3.2 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 43.0 |
| Mo Williams | 41 | 8.2 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 35.3 | 13 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 23.1 |
| Tristan Thompson | 82 | 7.8 | 9.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 21 | 6.7 | 9.0 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Channing Frye | 26 | 7.5 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 37.7 | 17 | 6.7 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 56.5 |
| Matthew Dellavedova | 76 | 7.5 | 2.1 | 4.4 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 41.0 | 20 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 25.8 |
| Timofey Mozgov | 76 | 6.3 | 4.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 14.3 | 13 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Iman Shumpert | 54 | 5.8 | 3.8 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 29.5 | 21 | 3.3 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 38.2 |
| Richard Jefferson | 74 | 5.5 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 38.2 | 21 | 5.4 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 39.3 |
| Jordan McRae | 15 | 4.1 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 63.6 | 2 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
| James Jones | 48 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 39.4 | 12 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 14.3 |
| Jared Cunningham | 40 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 31.3 | |||||||
| Anderson Varejão | 31 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Sasha Kaun | 25 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Joe Harris | 5 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 25.0 | |||||||
Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Detroit Pistons
In the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers faced off against the Detroit Pistons and secured a clean sweep, winning the series 4-0. Led by LeBron James, the Cavaliers showcased their dominance with strong performances from Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, setting the tone for their eventual championship run. The series highlighted their offensive versatility and defensive resilience, particularly in clutch moments, as they outmatched the Pistons in every game.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 17, 2016 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 106-101 | |
| Apr 20, 2016 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 107-90 | |
| Apr 22, 2016 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 101-91 | |
| Apr 24, 2016 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 100-98 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Atlanta Hawks
In the second round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers showcased their dominance by sweeping the Atlanta Hawks in four games. The Cavs, led by LeBron James and an impressive supporting cast including Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, displayed a potent offense, averaging over 110 points per game. Their performance solidified their status as the Eastern Conference favorites, setting the stage for their eventual championship run.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 02, 2016 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 104-93 | |
| May 04, 2016 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 123-98 | |
| May 06, 2016 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 121-108 | |
| May 08, 2016 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 100-99 |
2016 Conference Championship vs. Toronto Raptors
In the 2016 NBA Playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers dominated the Eastern Conference Finals, sweeping the Toronto Raptors 4-2. Led by LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, the Cavaliers showcased their offensive prowess and defensive resilience. This convincing performance set the stage for their historic comeback in the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2016 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 115-84 | |
| May 19, 2016 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 108-89 | |
| May 21, 2016 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 99-84 | |
| May 23, 2016 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 105-99 | |
| May 25, 2016 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 116-78 | |
| May 27, 2016 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 113-87 |
2016 NBA Finals vs. Golden State Warriors
The Cleveland Cavaliers' victory in the 2016 NBA Finals was a historic comeback, as they became the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the Finals to defeat the Golden State Warriors. Led by LeBron James, who delivered a masterful performance and was named Finals MVP, the Cavs secured their first-ever NBA championship, highlighted by Kyrie Irving's clutch three-pointer in Game 7 and a pivotal defensive block by James. This triumph not only cemented LeBron's legacy but also brought long-awaited glory to Cleveland sports fans.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 02, 2016 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 104-89 | |
| Jun 05, 2016 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 110-77 | |
| Jun 08, 2016 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 120-90 | |
| Jun 10, 2016 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 108-97 | |
| Jun 13, 2016 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 112-97 | |
| Jun 16, 2016 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 115-101 | |
| Jun 19, 2016 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 93-89 |
Cleveland Cavaliers 2015-16 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2015-16 season for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 27, 2015 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 97-95 | |
| Oct 28, 2015 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 106-76 | |
| Oct 30, 2015 | vs. Miami Heat | W 102-92 | |
| Nov 02, 2015 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 107-100 | |
| Nov 04, 2015 | vs. New York Knicks | W 96-86 | |
| Nov 06, 2015 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 108-102 | |
| Nov 08, 2015 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 101-97 | |
| Nov 10, 2015 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 118-114 | |
| Nov 13, 2015 | @ New York Knicks | W 90-84 | |
| Nov 14, 2015 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 108-105 | |
| Nov 17, 2015 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 104-99 | |
| Nov 19, 2015 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 115-100 | |
| Nov 21, 2015 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 109-97 | |
| Nov 23, 2015 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 117-103 | |
| Nov 25, 2015 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 103-99 | |
| Nov 27, 2015 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 95-90 | |
| Nov 28, 2015 | vs. Brooklyn Nets | W 90-88 | |
| Dec 01, 2015 | vs. Washington Wizards | L 97-85 | |
| Dec 04, 2015 | @ New Orleans Pelicans | L 114-108 | |
| Dec 05, 2015 | @ Miami Heat | L 99-84 | |
| Dec 08, 2015 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 105-100 | |
| Dec 11, 2015 | @ Orlando Magic | W 111-76 | |
| Dec 15, 2015 | @ Boston Celtics | W 89-77 | |
| Dec 17, 2015 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | W 104-100 | |
| Dec 20, 2015 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 108-86 | |
| Dec 23, 2015 | vs. New York Knicks | W 91-84 | |
| Dec 25, 2015 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 89-83 | |
| Dec 26, 2015 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 105-76 | |
| Dec 28, 2015 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 101-97 | |
| Dec 29, 2015 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 93-87 | |
| Jan 02, 2016 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 104-79 | |
| Jan 04, 2016 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 122-100 | |
| Jan 06, 2016 | @ Washington Wizards | W 121-115 | |
| Jan 08, 2016 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 125-99 | |
| Jan 10, 2016 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 95-85 | |
| Jan 12, 2016 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 110-107 | |
| Jan 14, 2016 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 99-95 | |
| Jan 15, 2016 | @ Houston Rockets | W 91-77 | |
| Jan 18, 2016 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 132-98 | |
| Jan 20, 2016 | @ Brooklyn Nets | W 91-78 | |
| Jan 21, 2016 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 115-102 | |
| Jan 23, 2016 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 96-83 | |
| Jan 25, 2016 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 114-107 | |
| Jan 27, 2016 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 115-93 | |
| Jan 29, 2016 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 114-106 | |
| Jan 30, 2016 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 117-103 | |
| Feb 01, 2016 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 111-106 | |
| Feb 03, 2016 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 106-97 | |
| Feb 05, 2016 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 104-103 | |
| Feb 06, 2016 | vs. New Orleans Pelicans | W 99-84 | |
| Feb 08, 2016 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 120-100 | |
| Feb 10, 2016 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 120-111 | |
| Feb 18, 2016 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 106-95 | |
| Feb 21, 2016 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | W 115-92 | |
| Feb 22, 2016 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 96-88 | |
| Feb 24, 2016 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 114-103 | |
| Feb 26, 2016 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 99-97 | |
| Feb 28, 2016 | @ Washington Wizards | L 113-99 | |
| Feb 29, 2016 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 100-96 | |
| Mar 04, 2016 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 108-83 | |
| Mar 05, 2016 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 120-103 | |
| Mar 07, 2016 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | L 106-103 | |
| Mar 09, 2016 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 120-111 | |
| Mar 10, 2016 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 120-108 | |
| Mar 13, 2016 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 114-90 | |
| Mar 14, 2016 | @ Utah Jazz | L 94-85 | |
| Mar 16, 2016 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 99-98 | |
| Mar 18, 2016 | @ Orlando Magic | W 109-103 | |
| Mar 19, 2016 | @ Miami Heat | L 122-101 | |
| Mar 21, 2016 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 124-91 | |
| Mar 23, 2016 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 113-104 | |
| Mar 24, 2016 | @ Brooklyn Nets | L 104-95 | |
| Mar 26, 2016 | @ New York Knicks | W 107-93 | |
| Mar 29, 2016 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 106-100 | |
| Mar 31, 2016 | vs. Brooklyn Nets | W 107-87 | |
| Apr 01, 2016 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 110-108 | |
| Apr 03, 2016 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 112-103 | |
| Apr 05, 2016 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 109-80 | |
| Apr 06, 2016 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 123-109 | |
| Apr 09, 2016 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 105-102 | |
| Apr 11, 2016 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 109-94 | |
| Apr 13, 2016 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 112-110 |