1991–92 Cleveland Cavaliers season

The 1991–92 NBA season was the 22nd season of the National Basketball Association in Cleveland, Ohio. During the off-season, the Cavaliers signed free agent John Battle, then later on re-signed former Cavs forward Mike Sanders in March after being released by the Indiana Pacers. After two straight seasons of injuries, the Cavaliers would finally play the entire season without any significant loss of manpower. After a 13–9 start to the season, the team posted an 11-game winning streak, and held a 31–14 record at the All-Star break. The Cavaliers finished the season 2nd in the Central Division with a 57–25 record, and tying the franchise high set in the 1988–89 season. On December 17, 1991, the Cavaliers set an NBA record by winning with the second largest margin of victory of any game defeating the Miami Heat at home, 148–80 (68 points).

Brad Daugherty led the team with 21.5 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, while Mark Price averaged 17.3 points and 7.4 assists per game, and Larry Nance averaged 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game. In addition, Craig Ehlo contributed 12.3 points per game, and sixth man Hot Rod Williams provided the team with 11.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game off the bench. Daugherty and Price were both named to the All-NBA Third Team, and selected for the 1992 NBA All-Star Game, while Price finished in seventh place in Most Valuable Player voting, Nance was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and top draft pick Terrell Brandon made the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Cavaliers defeated the New Jersey Nets in four games. In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, they trailed 2–1 to the 2nd-seeded Boston Celtics, but managed to win in a full seven game series. In the Eastern Conference finals, they faced against Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the defending champion Chicago Bulls, where they tied the series at one game a piece, with a 26-point road win in Game 2, 107–81. However, the Bulls would defeat the Cavaliers in four games to two. The Bulls would defeat the Portland Trail Blazers in six games in the NBA Finals, winning their second consecutive championship.

Draft picks

^*2nd round pick acquired from New York via Charlotte in Randolph Keys deal.

• 2nd round pick (#38) traded to Los Angeles Clippers in Danny Ferry deal. Used to draft Joe Wylie.
• 2nd round pick (#51) traded to New Jersey in Chris Dudley deal, then to Boston and Houston. Used to draft Žan Tabak.

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Playoffs

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Awards and records

• Wayne Embry, NBA Executive of the Year Award
• Mark Price, All-NBA Third Team
• Brad Daugherty, All-NBA Third Team
• Larry Nance, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
• Terrell Brandon, NBA All-Rookie Team 2nd Team

Transactions

References

• Cleveland Cavaliers on Database Basketball