2015–16 Cleveland Cavaliers season

The 2015–16 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 46th season of the Cleveland Cavaliers franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Cavaliers won the 2016 NBA championship, the first NBA championship in franchise history. During the regular season, the Cavaliers had the third best team offensive rating and were tenth in team defensive rating in the NBA. During the playoffs, the Cavaliers had the best team offensive rating and were eighth in team defensive rating in the NBA.

In the playoffs, the Cavaliers swept the Detroit Pistons in four games in the first round, then swept the Atlanta Hawks in four games in the Semi-finals, before finally defeating the Toronto Raptors in six games in the Conference Finals to reach the NBA Finals for a second consecutive year. There, the Cavaliers faced off against the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors, the team that defeated them in the previous year's NBA Finals in six games, and were coming off of a record-breaking regular season, where the team posted a league-best 73–9 record.

The Cavaliers would go on to defeat the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals in seven games, coming back from a 3–1 series deficit to avenge their loss from the prior year. The Cavaliers became the first team in NBA Finals history to recover from a 3–1 series deficit and win. The Cavaliers' victory also marked the first championship win by a major professional sports team from Cleveland since 1964, ending a 52–year championship drought dating back to the 1964 NFL title won by the Cleveland Browns. The Cleveland Cavaliers would be the first NBA champion to represent the Central Division since the 2003–04 Detroit Pistons.

Regular season summary
The Cavaliers started the season strong and rose to the top of the Eastern Conference. However, despite having the best record in their conference, the team fired head coach David Blatt on January 22, 2016. Assistant coach Tyronn Lue took over for the remainder of the season. The Cavaliers finished the regular season with a 57–25 record and obtained the number one seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2010.

Postseason summary
In the 2016 NBA Playoffs' first round, the Cleveland Cavaliers matched up against the 8th seed Detroit Pistons. In the first game of their series, Cleveland’s point guard Kyrie Irving led the way scoring 31 points and sealing a win for the Cavaliers, 106-101. The Cavs swept the rest of the series, winning 107-90 in Game 2, 101-91 in Game 3, and 100-98 in Game 4. Kyrie Irving was the top scorer of the series averaging 27.5 points per game, LeBron James led the Cleveland Cavaliers in this series in assist and steals, averaging 6.8 assists and 1.8 steals, and big man Kevin Love led Cleveland in rebounds averaging 12 total rebounds per game. The Cavaliers were matched with the number four seed, Atlanta Hawks, for their second series in the 2015-2016 post-season. Similar to their last series, they swept their opponents 4-0. Lebron James led the way in scoring, averaging 24.3 points per game. He also led his team in assists and steals, averaging 7.8 assists and 3 steals per game. Kevin Love was the rebound leader for the series averaging 13 rebounds per game. The Cavaliers were now facing the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals. The series between the Raptors and the Cavaliers took 6 games to finish with Cleveland winning 4 to 2. This was the first time in their 2015-2016 playoff run that they lost a game. Lebron James led his team in all major stats against the Toronto Raptors. He averaged 26 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in the 6 game series. The Cavaliers were off to face the Golden State Warriors in the NBA finals. They were considered huge underdogs because the Warriors had accomplished an incredible feat in the regular season, seventy-three wins and nine losses, the best record ever in the NBA.

The Cavaliers lost three of the first four games of the 2016 NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors, who had defeated Cleveland in the Finals the year before. The first two games were blowouts for Golden State, 104–89 and 110–77 respectively, combining for a total winning margin of 48. Cleveland would respond with a 120–90 blowout of their own to cut the series deficit to 2–1, but the Warriors would pull away late in Game 4 to take a decisive 3–1 series lead. In turn, the Cavaliers won Games 5 and 6 of the series to bring about a climactic Game 7 at Oracle Arena.

With Game 7 tied at 89–89, LeBron James chased down and blocked Andre Iguodala's attempted lay-up in a play that became known as "The Block." The Cavaliers ultimately won Game 7, 93–89, for the first NBA championship in franchise history. Until then, no team had recovered from a 3–1 deficit in an NBA Finals series. James was named the unanimous NBA Finals MVP, receiving the award for the third time in his career.

This win ended a fifty-two year championship drought in the city of Cleveland, with the last championship that any major sports team had won there being in 1964 when the Cleveland Browns won an NFL season. When the game ended, it was visible the sense of relief that the players felt. Lebron James was the star of the show, and he could not hold his tears back. When he finally got the strength to stand up, the only thing that he was able to say was, "Cleveland, this is for you," as the Oracle Arena blasted with cheers from Cleveland fans. Not only was this a monumental win for the Cleveland Cavaliers, it also cemented Lebron James as one of the all-time greats of the NBA. Prior to this ring, he had only won with the Miami Heat. The win in Cleveland was undoubtedly one of the best basketball performances the NBA has ever seen.

Preseason
7:00 pm 10,250 7:00 pm 8,229 7:00 pm 18,073 7:00 pm 18,624 7:00 pm 18,774 8:00 pm 19,800 7:00 pm 18,768
 * - style="background-color:#fbb;"
 * 1
 * October 7
 * Atlanta
 * 96–98
 * J. R. Smith (15)
 * LeBron James (7)
 * LeBron James (5)
 * Cintas Center
 * 0–1
 * - style="background-color:#fbb;"
 * 2
 * October 8
 * @ Philadelphia
 * 114–115
 * Jared Cunningham (31)
 * Austin Daye (9)
 * Matthew Dellavedova (5)
 * Wells Fargo Center
 * 0–2
 * - style="background-color:#fbb;"
 * 3
 * October 12
 * Memphis
 * 81–91
 * LeBron James (14)
 * Anderson Varejão (7)
 * Matthew Dellavedova (4)
 * Schottenstein Center
 * 0–3
 * - style="background-color:#fbb;"
 * 4
 * October 13
 * Milwaukee
 * 101–110
 * Mo Williams (18)
 * Kaun, Williams (6)
 * Cook, Williams (4)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 0–4
 * - style="background-color:#fbb;"
 * 5
 * October 15
 * Indiana
 * 85–107
 * Timofey Mozgov (16)
 * Anderson Varejão (7)
 * Jared Cunningham (6)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 0–5
 * - style="background-color:#fbb;"
 * 6
 * October 18
 * @ Toronto
 * 81–87
 * Mo Williams (13)
 * Timofey Mozgov (11)
 * Dellavedova, Varejão (5)
 * Air Canada Centre
 * 0–6
 * - style="background-color:#bfb;"
 * 7
 * October 19
 * Dallas
 * 103–97
 * J. R. Smith (19)
 * Jack Cooley (15)
 * Cunningham, Dellavedova (5)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 1–6

Regular season game log
21,957 18,119 20,562
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 1
 * October 27
 * @ Chicago
 * LeBron James (25)
 * Tristan Thompson (12)
 * Mo Williams (7)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 0–1
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 2
 * October 28
 * @ Memphis
 * Kevin Love (17)
 * Kevin Love (13)
 * J. R. Smith (7)
 * FedExForum
 * FedExForum
 * 1–1
 * -style="background:#bfb;"
 * 3
 * October 30
 * Miami
 * LeBron James (29)
 * Kevin Love (14)
 * Matthew Dellavedova (10)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 2–1

18,094 20,562 20,562 20,562 20,562 19,812 18,717 18,442 20,562 20,562 20,562 20,140 19,093 20,562
 * -style="background:#bfb;"
 * 4
 * November 2
 * @ Philadelphia
 * LeBron James (22)
 * James, Thompson (9)
 * LeBron James (11)
 * Wells Fargo Center
 * Wells Fargo Center
 * 3–1
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 5
 * November 4
 * New York
 * LeBron James (23)
 * Tristan Thompson (13)
 * Matthew Dellavedova (7)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 4–1
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 6
 * November 6
 * Philadelphia
 * LeBron James (31)
 * Kevin Love (14)
 * LeBron James (13)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 5–1
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 7
 * November 8
 * Indiana
 * LeBron James (29)
 * Kevin Love (15)
 * Matthew Dellavedova (9)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 6–1
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 8
 * November 10
 * Utah
 * LeBron James (31)
 * Kevin Love (8)
 * LeBron James (8)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 7–1
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 9
 * November 13
 * @ New York
 * LeBron James (31)
 * Kevin Love (11)
 * LeBron James (6)
 * Madison Square Garden
 * Madison Square Garden
 * 8–1
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 10
 * November 14
 * @ Milwaukee
 * LeBron James (37)
 * Kevin Love (14)
 * Matthew Dellavedova (7)
 * BMO Harris Bradley Center
 * BMO Harris Bradley Center
 * 8–2
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 11
 * November 17
 * @ Detroit
 * LeBron James (30)
 * Love, Thompson (9)
 * Mo Williams (7)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * 8–3
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 12
 * November 19
 * Milwaukee
 * LeBron James (27)
 * Kevin Love (15)
 * Matthew Dellavedova (13)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 9–3
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 13
 * November 21
 * Atlanta
 * Kevin Love (25)
 * Tristan Thompson (16)
 * LeBron James (8)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 10–3
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 14
 * November 23
 * Orlando
 * Kevin Love (34)
 * Tristan Thompson (14)
 * LeBron James (13)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 11–3
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 15
 * November 25
 * @ Toronto
 * LeBron James (24)
 * Kevin Love (13)
 * LeBron James (8)
 * Air Canada Centre
 * Air Canada Centre
 * 11–4
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 16
 * November 27
 * @ Charlotte
 * LeBron James (25)
 * Kevin Love (16)
 * James, Dellavedova (5)
 * Time Warner Cable Arena
 * Time Warner Cable Arena
 * 12–4
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 17
 * November 28
 * Brooklyn
 * James, Love (26)
 * Tristan Thompson (11)
 * Matthew Dellavedova (6)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 13–4

20,562 17,906 19,600 20,562 17,239 18,624 20,562 20,562 20,562 19,596 19,393 18,319 17,523
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 18
 * December 1
 * Washington
 * LeBron James (24)
 * LeBron James (13)
 * LeBron James (4)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 13–5
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 19
 * December 4
 * @ New Orleans
 * LeBron James (37)
 * Love, Thompson (10)
 * LeBron James (8)
 * Smoothie King Center
 * Smoothie King Center
 * 13–6
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 20
 * December 5
 * @ Miami
 * Richard Jefferson (18)
 * Kevin Love (8)
 * Matthew Dellavedova (5)
 * American Airlines Arena
 * American Airlines Arena
 * 13–7
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 21
 * December 8
 * Portland
 * LeBron James (33)
 * LeBron James (10)
 * Kevin Love (4)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 14–7
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 22
 * December 11
 * @ Orlando
 * LeBron James (25)
 * Kevin Love (13)
 * LeBron James (8)
 * Amway Center
 * Amway Center
 * 15–7
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 23
 * December 15
 * @ Boston
 * LeBron James (24)
 * Timofey Mozgov (10)
 * Kevin Love (5)
 * TD Garden
 * TD Garden
 * 16–7
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 24
 * December 17
 * Oklahoma City
 * LeBron James (33)
 * Tristan Thompson (15)
 * LeBron James (11)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 17–7
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 25
 * December 20
 * Philadelphia
 * LeBron James (23)
 * Timofey Mozgov (8)
 * Irving, James, Smith, Shumpert (4)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 18–7
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 26
 * December 23
 * New York
 * LeBron James (24)
 * Kevin Love (13)
 * Matthew Dellavedova (7)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 19–7
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 27
 * December 25
 * @ Golden State
 * LeBron James (25)
 * Kevin Love (18)
 * Kevin Love (4)
 * Oracle Arena
 * Oracle Arena
 * 19–8
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 28
 * December 26
 * @ Portland
 * Kevin Love (13)
 * Tristan Thompson (11)
 * Matthew Dellavedova (6)
 * Moda Center
 * Moda Center
 * 19–9
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 29
 * December 28
 * @ Phoenix
 * Kyrie Irving (22)
 * Tristan Thompson (10)
 * LeBron James (7)
 * Talking Stick Resort Arena
 * Talking Stick Resort Arena
 * 20–9
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 30
 * December 29
 * @ Denver
 * LeBron James (34)
 * Kevin Love (14)
 * Matthew Dellavedova (5)
 * Pepsi Center
 * Pepsi Center
 * 21–9

20,562 20,562 20,356 16,768 19,226 20,347 18,418 18,320 20,562 17,732 20,562 20,562 20,562 20,562 21,012 20,562
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 31
 * January 2
 * Orlando
 * LeBron James (29)
 * Kevin Love (13)
 * Matthew Dellavedova (6)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 22–9
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 32
 * January 4
 * Toronto
 * Kyrie Irving (25)
 * Tristan Thompson (11)
 * Kyrie Irving (8)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 23–9
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 33
 * January 6
 * @ Washington
 * LeBron James (34)
 * LeBron James (10)
 * LeBron James (4)
 * Verizon Center
 * Verizon Center
 * 24–9
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 34
 * January 8
 * @ Minnesota
 * J.R. Smith (27)
 * LeBron James (12)
 * LeBron James (8)
 * Target Center
 * Target Center
 * 25–9
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 35
 * January 10
 * @ Philadelphia
 * LeBron James (37)
 * Kevin Love (15)
 * LeBron James (9)
 * Wells Fargo Center
 * Wells Fargo Center
 * 26–9
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 36
 * January 12
 * @ Dallas
 * LeBron James (27)
 * Kevin Love (11)
 * Kyrie Irving (9)
 * American Airlines Center
 * American Airlines Center
 * 27–9
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 37
 * January 14
 * @ San Antonio
 * LeBron James (22)
 * Tristan Thompson (11)
 * LeBron James (4)
 * AT&T Center
 * AT&T Center
 * 27–10
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 38
 * January 15
 * @ Houston
 * Kyrie Irving (23)
 * Kevin Love (13)
 * LeBron James (7)
 * Toyota Center
 * Toyota Center
 * 28–10
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 39
 * January 18
 * Golden State
 * LeBron James (16)
 * Kevin Love (6)
 * Matthew Dellavedova (6)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 28–11
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 40
 * January 20
 * @ Brooklyn
 * James, Love (17)
 * Kevin Love (18)
 * Irving, James (5)
 * Barclays Center
 * Barclays Center
 * 29–11
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 41
 * January 21
 * L.A. Clippers
 * James, Smith (22)
 * Kevin Love (16)
 * LeBron James (12)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 30–11
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 42
 * January 23
 * Chicago
 * LeBron James (26)
 * LeBron James (13)
 * LeBron James (9)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 30–12
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 43
 * January 25
 * Minnesota
 * LeBron James (25)
 * Tristan Thompson (12)
 * LeBron James (9)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 31–12
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 44
 * January 27
 * Phoenix
 * James, Love (21)
 * Kevin Love (11)
 * LeBron James (9)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 32–12
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 45
 * January 29
 * @ Detroit
 * Kevin Love (29)
 * Tristan Thompson (14)
 * LeBron James (8)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * 33–12
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 46
 * January 30
 * San Antonio
 * LeBron James (29)
 * Kevin Love (11)
 * LeBron James (7)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 34–12

17,283 19,189 20,562 20,562 20,562 20,562 20,562 18,203 20,562 20,562 19,800 20,356 20,562
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 47
 * February 1
 * @ Indiana
 * Kyrie Irving (25)
 * James, Thompson (12)
 * Kyrie Irving (7)
 * Bankers Life Fieldhouse
 * Bankers Life Fieldhouse
 * 35–12
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 48
 * February 3
 * @ Charlotte
 * Kyrie Irving (26)
 * Kevin Love (12)
 * LeBron James (6)
 * Time Warner Cable Arena
 * Time Warner Cable Arena
 * 35–13
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 49
 * February 5
 * Boston
 * LeBron James (30)
 * Tristan Thompson (10)
 * Kyrie Irving (6)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 35–14
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 50
 * February 6
 * New Orleans
 * Kyrie Irving (29)
 * Tristan Thompson (15)
 * LeBron James (8)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 36–14
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 51
 * February 8
 * Sacramento
 * Kyrie Irving (32)
 * James, Thompson (10)
 * Kyrie Irving (12)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 37–14
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 52
 * February 10
 * L.A. Lakers
 * Kyrie Irving (35)
 * Tristan Thompson (13)
 * LeBron James (11)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 38–14
 * - align="center"
 * colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 53
 * February 18
 * Chicago
 * LeBron James (25)
 * Kevin Love (12)
 * LeBron James (9)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 39–14
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 54
 * February 21
 * @ Oklahoma City
 * Kevin Love (29)
 * Tristan Thompson (11)
 * LeBron James (9)
 * Chesapeake Energy Arena
 * Chesapeake Energy Arena
 * 40–14
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 55
 * February 22
 * Detroit
 * Kyrie Irving (30)
 * LeBron James (8)
 * Irving, James (5)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 40–15
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 56
 * February 24
 * Charlotte
 * Irving, James (23)
 * Tristan Thompson (10)
 * Dellavedova, James (7)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 41–15
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 57
 * February 26
 * @ Toronto
 * LeBron James (25)
 * Tristan Thompson (9)
 * LeBron James (7)
 * Air Canada Centre
 * Air Canada Centre
 * 41–16
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 58
 * February 28
 * @ Washington
 * Kyrie Irving (28)
 * Timofey Mozgov (10)
 * Kyrie Irving (6)
 * Verizon Center
 * Verizon Center
 * 41–17
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 59
 * February 29
 * Indiana
 * LeBron James (33)
 * Tristan Thompson (11)
 * Irving, Love (6)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 42–17

20,562 20,562 20,562 17,317 18,997 19,342 19,911 20,562 18,046 19,737 20,562 20,562 17,732 19,812 20,562 20,562
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 60
 * March 4
 * Washington
 * Kyrie Irving (21)
 * LeBron James (13)
 * Kyrie Irving (8)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 43–17
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 61
 * March 5
 * Boston
 * LeBron James (28)
 * Iman Shumpert (16)
 * LeBron James (8)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 44–17
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 62
 * March 7
 * Memphis
 * LeBron James (28)
 * Kevin Love (11)
 * Irving, James (5)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 44–18
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 63
 * March 9
 * @ Sacramento
 * Kyrie Irving (30)
 * LeBron James (11)
 * LeBron James (6)
 * Sleep Train Arena
 * Sleep Train Arena
 * 45–18
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 64
 * March 10
 * @ L.A. Lakers
 * Kyrie Irving (26)
 * Tristan Thompson (14)
 * Kyrie Irving (9)
 * Staples Center
 * Staples Center
 * 46–18
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 65
 * March 13
 * @ L.A. Clippers
 * LeBron James (27)
 * Tristan Thompson (14)
 * Irving, James (5)
 * Staples Center
 * Staples Center
 * 47–18
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 66
 * March 14
 * @ Utah
 * LeBron James (23)
 * LeBron James (12)
 * Matthew Dellavedova (5)
 * Vivint Smart Home Arena
 * Vivint Smart Home Arena
 * 47–19
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 67
 * March 16
 * Dallas
 * Kyrie Irving (33)
 * Kevin Love (18)
 * Matthew Dellavedova (7)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 48–19
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 68
 * March 18
 * @ Orlando
 * Kyrie Irving (26)
 * Tristan Thompson (15)
 * LeBron James (8)
 * Amway Center
 * Amway Center
 * 49–19
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 69
 * March 19
 * @ Miami
 * LeBron James (26)
 * Frye, Jefferson, Mozgov (4)
 * Irving, Shumpert (4)
 * American Airlines Arena
 * American Airlines Arena
 * 49–20
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 70
 * March 21
 * Denver
 * LeBron James (33)
 * LeBron James (11)
 * LeBron James (11)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 50–20
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 71
 * March 23
 * Milwaukee
 * LeBron James (26)
 * Kevin Love (10)
 * Irving, James (8)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 51–20
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 72
 * March 24
 * @ Brooklyn
 * LeBron James (30)
 * Kevin Love (12)
 * LeBron James (5)
 * Barclays Center
 * Barclays Center
 * 51–21
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 73
 * March 26
 * @ New York
 * Kevin Love (28)
 * Kevin Love (12)
 * LeBron James (10)
 * Madison Square Garden
 * Madison Square Garden
 * 52–21
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 74
 * March 29
 * Houston
 * Kyrie Irving (31)
 * Kevin Love (11)
 * Kyrie Irving (8)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 52–22
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 75
 * March 31
 * Brooklyn
 * LeBron James (24)
 * Kevin Love (10)
 * LeBron James (11)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 53–22

19,427 20,562 15,061 18,165 22,186 20,562 20,562
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 76
 * April 1
 * @ Atlanta
 * LeBron James (29)
 * LeBron James (16)
 * LeBron James (9)
 * Philips Arena
 * Philips Arena
 * 54–22
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 77
 * April 3
 * Charlotte
 * LeBron James (31)
 * Kevin Love (9)
 * LeBron James (12)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 55–22
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 78
 * April 5
 * @ Milwaukee
 * J. R. Smith (21)
 * Kevin Love (9)
 * LeBron James (9)
 * BMO Harris Bradley Center
 * BMO Harris Bradley Center
 * 56–22
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 79
 * April 6
 * @ Indiana
 * Kyrie Irving (26)
 * Kevin Love (5)
 * Kyrie Irving (6)
 * Bankers Life Fieldhouse
 * Bankers Life Fieldhouse
 * 56–23
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 80
 * April 9
 * @ Chicago
 * LeBron James (33)
 * Kevin Love (13)
 * Kyrie Irving (8)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 56–24
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 81
 * April 11
 * Atlanta
 * Kyrie Irving (35)
 * Kevin Love (14)
 * LeBron James (6)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 57–24
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 82
 * April 13
 * Detroit
 * Jordan McRae (36)
 * Timofey Mozgov (12)
 * Jordan McRae (7)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 57–25

Game log
20,562
 * - bgcolor=bbffbb
 * 1
 * April 17
 * Detroit
 * Kyrie Irving (31)
 * Kevin Love (13)
 * LeBron James (11)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 1–0
 * - bgcolor=bbffbb
 * 2
 * April 20
 * Detroit
 * LeBron James (27)
 * Kevin Love (10)
 * Matthew Dellavedova (9)
 * Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
 * 2–0
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 3
 * April 22
 * @ Detroit
 * Kyrie Irving (26)
 * LeBron James (13)
 * LeBron James (7)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,584
 * 3–0
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 4
 * April 24
 * @ Detroit
 * Kyrie Irving (31)
 * Kevin Love (13)
 * LeBron James (6)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,584
 * 4–0
 * LeBron James (6)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,584
 * 4–0


 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 1
 * May 2
 * Atlanta
 * LeBron James (25)
 * Tristan Thompson (14)
 * LeBron James (9)
 * Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
 * 1–0
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 2
 * May 4
 * Atlanta
 * LeBron James (27)
 * Kevin Love (13)
 * Dellavedova, Irving (6)
 * Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
 * 2–0
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 3
 * May 6
 * @ Atlanta
 * Channing Frye (27)
 * Kevin Love (15)
 * LeBron James (8)
 * Philips Arena 19,089
 * 3–0
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 4
 * May 8
 * @ Atlanta
 * Kevin Love (27)
 * Kevin Love (13)
 * LeBron James (9)
 * Philips Arena 19,031
 * 4–0
 * Kevin Love (13)
 * LeBron James (9)
 * Philips Arena 19,031
 * 4–0


 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 1
 * May 17
 * Toronto
 * Kyrie Irving (27)
 * Richard Jefferson (11)
 * Kyrie Irving (5)
 * Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
 * 1–0
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 2
 * May 19
 * Toronto
 * Kyrie Irving (26)
 * Tristan Thompson (12)
 * LeBron James (11)
 * Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
 * 2–0
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 3
 * May 21
 * @ Toronto
 * LeBron James (24)
 * James, Thompson (8)
 * LeBron James (5)
 * Air Canada Centre 20,207
 * 2–1
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 4
 * May 23
 * @ Toronto
 * LeBron James (29)
 * James, Thompson (9)
 * Irving, James (6)
 * Air Canada Centre 20,367
 * 2–2
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 5
 * May 25
 * Toronto
 * Kevin Love (25)
 * Tristan Thompson (10)
 * LeBron James (8)
 * Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
 * 3–2
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 6
 * May 27
 * @ Toronto
 * LeBron James (33)
 * Kevin Love (12)
 * Kyrie Irving (9)
 * Air Canada Centre 20,605
 * 4–2
 * LeBron James (33)
 * Kevin Love (12)
 * Kyrie Irving (9)
 * Air Canada Centre 20,605
 * 4–2
 * 4–2


 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 1
 * June 2
 * @ Golden State
 * Kyrie Irving (26)
 * Kevin Love (13)
 * LeBron James (9)
 * Oracle Arena 19,596
 * 0–1
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 2
 * June 5
 * @ Golden State
 * LeBron James (19)
 * LeBron James (8)
 * LeBron James (9)
 * Oracle Arena 19,596
 * 0–2
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 3
 * June 8
 * Golden State
 * LeBron James (32)
 * Tristan Thompson (13)
 * Kyrie Irving (8)
 * Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
 * 1–2
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 4
 * June 10
 * Golden State
 * Kyrie Irving (34)
 * LeBron James (13)
 * LeBron James (9)
 * Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
 * 1–3
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 5
 * June 13
 * @ Golden State
 * James, Irving (41)
 * LeBron James (16)
 * LeBron James (7)
 * Oracle Arena 19,596
 * 2–3
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 6
 * June 16
 * Golden State
 * LeBron James (41)
 * Tristan Thompson (16)
 * LeBron James (11)
 * Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
 * 3–3
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 7
 * June 19
 * @ Golden State
 * LeBron James (27)
 * Kevin Love (14)
 * LeBron James (11)
 * Oracle Arena 19,596
 * 4–3
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * LeBron James (27)
 * Kevin Love (14)
 * LeBron James (11)
 * Oracle Arena 19,596
 * 4–3
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * - style="background:#bfb;"

Records

 * JR Smith set franchise records in:
 * Three-point field goals in a season: (204)
 * Three-point field goal attempts in a season: (510)
 * Turnover percentage in a season: (6.3%)
 * Three-point field goals in a postseason: (65)
 * Tristan Thompson set a franchise record in:
 * Offensive rating in a season: (129.8)

Milestones

 * On March 29, Tristan Thompson broke the franchise record of consecutive games with the Cavs, appearing in his 362nd consecutive game.
 * The Cavs finished the season first in the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2010.
 * The Cavs finished first in the Central Division for the second straight season.
 * The Cavs became the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3–1 deficit and win the NBA Finals.
 * The Cavs won the 2016 NBA Finals, ending the city's 52-year championship drought.
 * LeBron James famously blocked Andre Iguodala in Game 7. This has been called one of the best plays of his career.
 * LeBron James became the third player in NBA history to record a triple-double in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
 * James also became the first player in NBA history to lead both NBA Finals teams in all five statistical categories for the round.