The NBA Belt · reign 1,700
Cleveland Cavaliers
Took the belt from Atlanta Hawks, 120–94, on December 17, 1988. Lost it to Seattle SuperSonics, 105–103, on January 9, 1989.
9Defenses
23Days
23rdReign for the franchise
+1Closest call · Dec 21, 1988
12.8Average winning margin
108thLongest of 3,250 reigns, by days
33rdMost defenses of 3,250 reigns
Defended against
Bulls ×2JazzCelticsSeattle SuperSonicsHornetsWashington BulletsPacersKnicks
The season
- 1988–89: Detroit Pistons had the best record (63–19–0); Detroit Pistons won the NBA title; 11 belt games of this reign; the belt changed hands 33 times that season.
Reign leaders
Most points for Cleveland Cavaliers across the 11 belt games of this reign with a box score.
| Player | PTS | Games | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ron Harper | 226 | 10 |
| 2 | Brad Daugherty | 181 | 10 |
| 3 | Larry Nance | 166 | 10 |
| 4 | Mark Price | 138 | 8 |
| 5 | Hot Rod Williams | 111 | 10 |
Every game of the reign
margins from Cleveland Cavaliers’ side| Belt game | Date | Result | Margin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,791 | Dec 17, 1988 | Cleveland Cavaliers beat Atlanta Hawks 120–94 Game → | +26 | Title change |
| 3,792 | Dec 20, 1988 | Cleveland Cavaliers beat Utah Jazz 110–94 | +16 | Defense |
| 3,793 | Dec 21, 1988 | Cleveland Cavaliers beat Boston Celtics 115–114 | +1 | Defense |
| 3,794 | Dec 23, 1988 | Cleveland Cavaliers beat Seattle SuperSonics 119–107 | +12 | Defense |
| 3,795 | Dec 27, 1988 | Cleveland Cavaliers beat Chicago Bulls 107–96 | +11 | Defense |
| 3,796 | Dec 28, 1988 | Cleveland Cavaliers beat Charlotte Hornets 122–98 | +24 | Defense |
| 3,797 | Dec 30, 1988 | Cleveland Cavaliers beat Washington Bullets 127–110 | +17 | Defense |
| 3,798 | Jan 3, 1989 | Cleveland Cavaliers beat Indiana Pacers 119–98 | +21 | Defense |
| 3,799 | Jan 5, 1989 | Cleveland Cavaliers beat Chicago Bulls 103–98 | +5 | Defense |
| 3,800 | Jan 7, 1989 | Cleveland Cavaliers beat New York Knicks 104–96 | +8 | Defense |
| 3,801 | Jan 9, 1989 | Seattle SuperSonics beat Cleveland Cavaliers 105–103 Game → | −2 | Title change |