The 1988-89 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 19th season of NBA basketball in Cleveland, Ohio. During the off-season, the team signed free agent Tree Rollins, and acquired Darnell Valentine from the expansion Miami Heat. The Cavaliers started their 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, held a 35–11 record at the All-Star break, and finished the season with a 57–25 record, setting a franchise high. This record was tied for 2nd best in the NBA, finishing 2nd in the Central Division. Mark Price and Brad Daugherty both led the team in scoring with 18.9 points per game each, while Price contributed 8.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game, while being selected to the All-NBA Third Team, and Daugherty averaged 9.2 rebounds per game. In addition, Ron Harper averaged 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 contributed 11.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game off the bench. 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, 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, and Wilkens finished in third place in Coach of the Year voting. In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Cavaliers were eliminated by Michael Jordan's 6th-seeded Chicago Bulls in five games, thanks to a memorable series-clinching shot by Jordan. Following the season, Sanders signed as a free agent with the Indiana Pacers. Key Dates:

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Notes

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Playoffs

Player stats

Regular season

Playoffs

Player Statistics Citation:

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Milestones

All-Star

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Development league