Season of National Basketball Association team the Cleveland Cavaliers
NBA professional basketball team season
The 2018–19 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 49th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Cavaliers entered the season as runners-up in the 2018 NBA Finals , in which they were swept by the Golden State Warriors in four games, the first Finals sweep since 2007 , in which the Cavs were also swept, by the San Antonio Spurs .[ 1]
LeBron James was not on the roster for the first time since 2013–14 , as he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in the offseason as a free agent.[ 2]
On October 28, 2018, the Cavaliers fired Tyronn Lue after a 0–6 start (the worst start for a team coming off the NBA Finals) and replaced him on the interim basis with his assistant Larry Drew , who would become permanent coach on November 5.[ 3]
Without LeBron James, as with the 2010–11 season (James' first departure from Cleveland), the Cavaliers struggled to find a solid identity, ranking in the bottom 10 in all of points per game, opponent points per game, pace, offensive rating, and defensive rating.[ 4] They finished at 19–63, the third worst record in the league, second worst in the Eastern Conference, and their worst season since 2010-11. This was also the Cavs' first losing season since the 2013–14 season .
Draft
The Cavaliers entered the 2018 NBA draft with the rights to the eighth overall pick, which originally belonged to the Brooklyn Nets .[ 5] Cleveland acquired the pick from the Boston Celtics in the Kyrie Irving trade during the summer of 2017.[ 6] The Cavaliers used the pick to acquire point guard Collin Sexton , a freshman out of the University of Alabama .[ 7]
Preseason summary
On July 1, 2018, LeBron James confirmed that he would be leaving the Cavaliers and signing a four-year, $154 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers .[ 2] [ 8] This marked the second time in which James left the Cavaliers in free agency, with the first coming when James joined the Miami Heat in 2010.[ 2]
Roster
2018–19 Cleveland Cavaliers roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
F
32
Adel, Deng (TW)
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1997–02–01
Louisville
F
4
Blossomgame, Jaron (TW)
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1993–09–16
Clemson
F
3
Chriss, Marquese
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1996–07–02
Washington
G
8
Clarkson, Jordan
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
194 lb (88 kg)
1992–06–07
Missouri
G
18
Dellavedova, Matthew
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1990–09–08
Saint Mary's
F/C
9
Frye, Channing
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
255 lb (116 kg)
1983–05–17
Arizona
F
31
Henson, John
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
219 lb (99 kg)
1990–12–28
North Carolina
G
20
Knight, Brandon
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1991–12–02
Kentucky
F/C
0
Love, Kevin
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
251 lb (114 kg)
1988–09–07
UCLA
F
22
Nance, Larry
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1993–01–01
Wyoming
G
12
Nwaba, David
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
219 lb (99 kg)
1993–01–14
Cal Poly
F
16
Osman, Cedi
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1995–04–08
Turkey
G
2
Sexton, Collin
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1999–01–04
Alabama
G/F
5
Smith, J. R. (L)
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1985–09–09
St. Benedict's Prep (NJ)
G
1
Stauskas, Nik
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1993–10–07
Michigan
F/C
13
Thompson, Tristan
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
238 lb (108 kg)
1991–03–13
Texas
C
41
Žižić, Ante
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
254 lb (115 kg)
1997–01–04
Croatia
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended(GL) On assignment to G League affiliate(TW) Two-way affiliate player(L) On leave from the team Injured
Roster Last transaction: 2019–02–11
Standings
Division
Conference
Game log
Preseason
2018 preseason game log Total: 2–2 (Home: 1–2; Road: 1–0)
Preseason: 2–2 (home: 1–2; road: 1–0)
2018–19 season schedule
Regular season
2018–19 game log Total: 19–63 (Home: 13–28; Road: 6–35)
October: 1–6 (home: 1–3; road: 0–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
1
October 17
@ Toronto
L 104–116
Kevin Love (21)
Tristan Thompson (13)
George Hill (7)
Scotiabank Arena 19,915
0–1
2
October 19
@ Minnesota
L 123–131
Kevin Love (25)
Kevin Love (19)
Cedi Osman (8)
Target Center 18,978
0–2
3
October 21
Atlanta
L 111–133
Jordan Clarkson (19)
Kevin Love (17)
Cedi Osman (4)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
0–3
4
October 24
Brooklyn
L 86–102
Love , Sexton , Clarkson (14)
Tristan Thompson (12)
Thompson , Nance Jr. (4)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
0–4
5
October 25
@ Detroit
L 103–110
Kyle Korver (21)
Osman , Nance Jr. (6)
Sexton , Nance Jr. (5)
Little Caesars Arena 15,896
0–5
6
October 27
Indiana
L 107–119
Rodney Hood (17)
Larry Nance Jr. (12)
Sexton , Nance Jr. (4)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
0–6
7
October 30
Atlanta
W 136–114
Rodney Hood (26)
Tristan Thompson (13)
Sam Dekker (4)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
1–6
November
: 3–11 (home: 2–4; road: 1–7)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
8
November 1
Denver
L 91–110
Jordan Clarkson (17)
Tristan Thompson (7)
Thompson , Hood (4)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
1–7
9
November 3
@ Charlotte
L 94–126
J.R. Smith (14)
Tristan Thompson (8)
Hill , Smith , Korver (4)
Spectrum Center 16,221
1–8
10
November 5
@ Orlando
L 100–102
George Hill (22)
Tristan Thompson (16)
George Hill (6)
Amway Center 15,009
1–9
11
November 7
Oklahoma City
L 86–95
Collin Sexton (15)
Tristan Thompson (15)
Jordan Clarkson (8)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
1–10
12
November 10
@ Chicago
L 98–99
Tristan Thompson (22)
Larry Nance Jr. (14)
Jordan Clarkson (4)
United Center 21,506
1–11
13
November 13
Charlotte
W 113–89
Jordan Clarkson (24)
Tristan Thompson (21)
Smith , Thompson (5)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
2–11
14
November 14
@ Washington
L 95–119
Collin Sexton (24)
David Nwaba (7)
Larry Nance Jr. (5)
Capital One Arena 14,537
2–12
15
November 19
@ Detroit
L 102–113
Collin Sexton (18)
Tristan Thompson (7)
Sexton , Clarkson (4)
Little Caesars Arena 15,769
2–13
16
November 21
LA Lakers
L 105–109
Cedi Osman (21)
Tristan Thompson (15)
Clarkson , Nance Jr. (5)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
2–14
17
November 23
@ Philadelphia
W 121–112
Rodney Hood (25)
Tristan Thompson (13)
Andrew Harrison (5)
Wells Fargo Center 20,524
3–14
18
November 24
Houston
W 117–108
Collin Sexton (29)
Tristan Thompson (20)
Jordan Clarkson (4)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
4–14
19
November 26
Minnesota
L 95–102
Kyle Korver (22)
Tristan Thompson (11)
Larry Nance Jr. (7)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
4–15
20
November 28
@ Oklahoma City
L 83–100
Collin Sexton (21)
Nance Jr. , Osman , Sexton (10)
Cedi Osman (6)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203
4–16
21
November 30
@ Boston
L 95–128
Jordan Clarkson (16)
Tristan Thompson (12)
Burks , Thompson , Sexton (4)
TD Garden 18,624
4–17
December
: 4–12 (home: 2–6; road: 2–6)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
22
December 1
Toronto
L 95–106
Clarkson , Thompson (18)
Tristan Thompson (19)
Osman , Thompson (3)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
4–18
23
December 3
@ Brooklyn
W 99–97
Jordan Clarkson (20)
Tristan Thompson (14)
Jordan Clarkson (4)
Barclays Center 10,983
5–18
24
December 5
Golden State
L 105–129
Collin Sexton (21)
Tristan Thompson (19)
Hill , Thompson , Clarkson , Sexton (3)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
5–19
25
December 7
Sacramento
L 110–129
Jordan Clarkson (26)
Burks , Nance Jr. (7)
Alec Burks (9)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
5–20
26
December 8
Washington
W 116–101
Collin Sexton (29)
Tristan Thompson (19)
Larry Nance Jr. (7)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
6–20
27
December 10
@ Milwaukee
L 92–108
Larry Nance Jr. (16)
Jaron Blossomgame (10)
Cedi Osman (6)
Fiserv Forum 17,155
6–21
28
December 12
NY Knicks
W 113–107
Jordan Clarkson (28)
Larry Nance Jr. (11)
Larry Nance Jr. (7)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
7–21
29
December 14
Milwaukee
L 102–114
Jordan Clarkson (23)
Larry Nance Jr. (10)
Larry Nance Jr. (6)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
7–22
30
December 16
Philadelphia
L 105–128
Osman , Clarkson (18)
Jordan Clarkson (6)
Matthew Dellavedova (7)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
7–23
31
December 18
@ Indiana
W 92–91
Rodney Hood (17)
Larry Nance Jr. (16)
Larry Nance Jr. (6)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 15,630
8–23
32
December 19
@ Charlotte
L 99–110
Jordan Clarkson (20)
Larry Nance Jr. (15)
Larry Nance Jr. (7)
Spectrum Center 15,179
8–24
33
December 21
@ Toronto
L 110–126
Jordan Clarkson (20)
Larry Nance Jr. (12)
Matthew Dellavedova (7)
Scotiabank Arena 19,800
8–25
34
December 23
Chicago
L 92–112
Larry Nance Jr. (20)
Cedi Osman (7)
Burks , Sexton (3)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
8–26
35
December 26
@ Memphis
L 87–95
Jordan Clarkson (24)
Ante Zizic (11)
Collin Sexton (6)
FedExForum 16,424
8–27
36
December 28
@ Miami
L 94–118
Jordan Clarkson (18)
Jaron Blossomgame (10)
Alec Burks (5)
American Airlines Arena 19,617
8–28
37
December 29
@ Atlanta
L 108–111
Cedi Osman (22)
Larry Nance Jr. (15)
Larry Nance Jr. (7)
State Farm Arena 16,460
8–29
January
: 3–12 (home: 1–6; road: 2–6)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
38
January 2
Miami
L 92–117
Tristan Thompson (14)
Larry Nance Jr. (5)
Larry Nance Jr. (6)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
8–30
39
January 4
Utah
L 91–117
Alec Burks (17)
Tristan Thompson (12)
Frye , Sexton (3)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
8–31
40
January 5
New Orleans
L 98–133
Jordan Clarkson (23)
Tristan Thompson (11)
Alec Burks (6)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
8–32
41
January 8
Indiana
L 115–123
Jordan Clarkson (26)
Tristan Thompson (13)
Thompson , Dellavedova (5)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
8–33
42
January 9
@ New Orleans
L 124–140
Jordan Clarkson (21)
Tristan Thompson (10)
Matthew Dellavedova (7)
Smoothie King Center 15,058
8–34
43
January 11
@ Houston
L 113–141
Ante Zizic (18)
Ante Zizic (8)
Payne , Sexton (5)
Toyota Center 18,055
8–35
44
January 13
@ LA Lakers
W 101–95
Cedi Osman (20)
Tristan Thompson (14)
Alec Burks (4)
Staples Center 18,997
9–35
45
January 16
@ Portland
L 112–129
Jordan Clarkson (22)
Jaron Blossomgame (10)
Matthew Dellavedova (6)
Moda Center 19,089
9–36
46
January 18
@ Utah
L 99–115
Zizic , Sexton (15)
Ante Zizic (10)
Dellavedova , Payne (3)
Vivint Smart Home Arena 18,306
9–37
47
January 19
@ Denver
L 102–124
Ante Zizic (23)
Ante Zizic (6)
Collin Sexton (7)
Pepsi Center 19,520
9–38
48
January 21
Chicago
L 88–104
Collin Sexton (18)
Ante Zizic (9)
Jordan Clarkson (4)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
9–39
49
January 23
@ Boston
L 103–123
Cedi Osman (25)
Alec Burks (9)
Alec Burks (6)
TD Garden 18,624
9–40
50
January 25
Miami
L 94–100
Cedi Osman (29)
Ante Zizic (9)
Matthew Dellavedova (5)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
9–41
51
January 27
@ Chicago
W 104–101
Clarkson , Burks (18)
Ante Zizic (14)
Jordan Clarkson (6)
United Center 19,675
10–41
52
January 29
Washington
W 116–113
Cedi Osman (26)
Ante Zizic (12)
Alec Burks (9)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
11–41
February
: 4–6 (home: 3–4; road: 1–2)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
53
February 2
Dallas
L 98–111
Jordan Clarkson (19)
Larry Nance Jr. (12)
Alec Burks (5)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
11–42
54
February 5
Boston
L 96–103
Collin Sexton (25)
Zizic , Nance Jr. (12)
Matthew Dellavedova (4)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
11–43
55
February 8
@ Washington
L 106–119
Collin Sexton (27)
Larry Nance Jr. (19)
Larry Nance Jr. (6)
Capital One Arena 16,682
11–44
56
February 9
@ Indiana
L 90–105
Jordan Clarkson (18)
Larry Nance Jr. (10)
Jordan Clarkson (6)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 17,923
11–45
57
February 11
NY Knicks
W 107–104
Collin Sexton (20)
Larry Nance Jr. (16)
Matthew Dellavedova (6)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
12–45
58
February 13
Brooklyn
L 139–148 (3OT)
Jordan Clarkson (42)
Larry Nance Jr. (14)
Matthew Dellavedova (13)
Quicken Loans Arena 17,434
12–46
59
February 21
Phoenix
W 111–98
Cedi Osman (19)
Ante Zizic (12)
Matthew Dellavedova (11)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,022
13–46
60
February 23
Memphis
W 112–107
Kevin Love (32)
Kevin Love (12)
Matthew Dellavedova (6)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
14–46
61
February 25
Portland
L 110–123
Cedi Osman (27)
Kevin Love (12)
Dellavedova , Nance Jr. (5)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
14–47
62
February 28
@ NY Knicks
W 125–118
Kevin Love (26)
Kevin Love (8)
Cedi Osman (5)
Madison Square Garden 17,573
15–47
March
: 4–11 (home: 4–3; road: 0–8)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
63
March 2
Detroit
L 93–129
Collin Sexton (16)
Nwaba , Nance Jr. (5)
Clarkson , Nance Jr. (3)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
15–48
64
March 3
Orlando
W 107–93
Jordan Clarkson (18)
Kevin Love (14)
Larry Nance Jr. (4)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
16–48
65
March 6
@ Brooklyn
L 107–113
Kevin Love (24)
Kevin Love (16)
Collin Sexton (5)
Barclays Center 14,177
16–49
66
March 8
@ Miami
L 110–126
Collin Sexton (27)
Ante Zizic (6)
Knight , Osman , Sexton (6)
AmericanAirlines Arena 19,600
16–50
67
March 11
Toronto
W 126–101
Collin Sexton (28)
Kevin Love (18)
Cedi Osman (7)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
17–50
68
March 12
@ Philadelphia
L 99–106
Collin Sexton (26)
David Nwaba (7)
Osman , Stauskas (4)
Wells Fargo Center 20,420
17–51
69
March 14
@ Orlando
L 91–120
Collin Sexton (23)
Osman , Love , Zizic (8)
Cedi Osman (4)
Amway Center 18,091
17–52
70
March 16
@ Dallas
L 116–121
Collin Sexton (28)
Kevin Love (12)
Osman , Love , Sexton (4)
American Airlines Center 20,347
17–53
71
March 18
Detroit
W 126–119
Collin Sexton (27)
Marquese Chriss (10)
Cedi Osman (6)
Quicken Loans Arena 18,465
18–53
72
March 20
Milwaukee
W 107–102
Collin Sexton (25)
Love , Zizic (10)
Larry Nance Jr. (5)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
19–53
73
March 22
L. A. Clippers
L 108–110
Kevin Love (22)
Larry Nance Jr. (9)
Osman , Knight (3)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
19–54
74
March 24
@ Milwaukee
L 105–127
Kevin Love (20)
Kevin Love (19)
Larry Nance Jr. (6)
Fiserv Forum 17,930
19–55
75
March 26
Boston
L 106–116
Collin Sexton (24)
Kevin Love (11)
Larry Nance Jr. (7)
Quicken Loans Arena 19,432
19–56
76
March 28
@ San Antonio
L 110–116
Collin Sexton (24)
Larry Nance Jr. (11)
Larry Nance Jr. (4)
AT&T Center 18,756
19–57
77
March 30
@ L. A. Clippers
L 108–132
Jordan Clarkson (26)
Thompson , Nance Jr. (10)
Thompson , Osman , Sexton (4)
Staples Center 16,439
19–58
April
: 0–5 (home: 0–2; road: 0–3)
2018–19 season schedule
Transactions
Trades
Free agency
Re-signed
Additions
Subtractions
References
^ Cacciola, Scott; Hoffman, Benjamin; Stein, Marc (June 8, 2018). "Warriors, in Full Dynasty Mode, Sweep Cavaliers in N.B.A. Finals" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 11, 2018 .
^ a b c d Stein, Marc ; Cacciola, Scott (July 1, 2018). "LeBron James Joining Lakers on 4-Year $154 Million Deal" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 11, 2018 .
^ "Cavaliers and Larry Drew Agree on New Head Coaching Deal" . NBA.com . November 5, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2018 .
^ "2018–19 Cleveland Cavaliers Schedule and Results" . basketball-reference.com . Retrieved January 27, 2019 .
^ "Cavs Earn Eighth Overall Pick in 2018 NBA Draft" . NBA.com/cavaliers . May 15, 2018. Archived from the original on July 11, 2018.
^ Vardon, Joe (May 15, 2018). "Cavaliers land No. 8 pick in draft at 2018 NBA Lottery in Chicago" . cleveland.com . Archived from the original on July 11, 2018.
^ Vardon, Joe (June 22, 2018). "Cavaliers select Collin Sexton of Alabama, and he makes immediate pitch to LeBron James to stay: NBA Draft 2018" . cleveland.com . Archived from the original on July 11, 2018.
^ Ruiz, Steven (July 2, 2018). "LeBron James thanks Northeast Ohio in classy farewell message" . USA Today . Archived from the original on July 11, 2018.
^ "Cavaliers Acquire Sam Dekker" . NBA.com . August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2018 .
^ "Cavs Re-Sign Rodney Hood" . NBA.com . September 10, 2018. Retrieved September 10, 2018 .
^ "Cavaliers Sign Billy Preston to Two-Way Contract" . NBA.com . July 7, 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2018 .
^ "Cavaliers Sign Channing Frye" . NBA.com . July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018 .
^ "Cavaliers Sign David Nwaba" . NBA.com . September 8, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2018 .
^ "London Perrantes: Waived by Cavs" . CBS Sports . June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2018 .
^ "London Perrantes signs with Limoges CSP" . Sportando . July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018 .[permanent dead link ]
^ "Le playmaker London PERRANTES rejoint le Limoges CSP" . limogescsp.com (in French). July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018 .
^ "Lakers Sign LeBron James" . NBA.com/lakers . July 9, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
^ Buckner, Candace (July 3, 2018). "Wizards add veteran depth, sign former Hoya Jeff Green to one-year deal" . The Washington Post . Retrieved July 11, 2018 .
^ "Wizards sign Jeff Green" . NBA.com . July 10, 2018. Retrieved July 10, 2018 .
^ "Detroit Pistons sign free agents Jose Calderon, Glen Robinson III" . NBA.com . July 7, 2018. Archived from the original on July 11, 2018.
^ "Cavaliers Waive Kendrick Perkins" . NBA.com . July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018 .
^ "Cavaliers Waive Okaro White" . NBA.com . August 5, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2018 .
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