The 1973–74

Cleveland Cavaliers The Cleveland Cavaliers, often referred to as the Cavs, are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Divis ...

season was the fourth season of

NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–United States border, Canada–U.S. maritime border ...

. The Cavaliers finished the season with a 29–53 record, finishing last in the Central Division and 7th Eastern Conference. Austin Carr was named an

All-Star An all-star team is a group of people all having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and has been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry. Sports "All-star" as a sport ...

and set the team record for points per game. The Cavaliers played, and won, their last game in Cleveland Arena.

Offseason

Trades

April 24: Cavaliers trade center Rick Roberson and forward John Johnson and switch positions in the first round of the 1973 NBA draft with the

Portland Trail Blazers The Portland Trail Blazers (colloquially known as the Blazers) are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. The Trail Blazers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division (N ...

in exchange for the Trail Blazers' first round choice and four other draft choices. The Cavaliers select forward Jim Brewer with Portland's first pick.

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

, -style="background:#fcc;" , 1 , , October 12, 1973 , ,

Houston Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...

L 106–99
, Austin Carr (24) ,

Brewer Brewing is the production of beer by steeping a starch source (commonly cereal grains, the most popular of which is barley) in water and fermenting the resulting sweet liquid with yeast. It may be done in a brewery by a commercial brewer, ...

, Wilkens (7) ,

Lenny Wilkens Leonard Randolph Wilkens (born October 28, 1937) is an American former professional basketball player and coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has been inducted three times into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, fi ...

(7) , Cleveland Arena
3,624 , 0–1 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 2 , , October 14, 1973 , ,

Detroit Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

L 95–83
, Dwight Davis (18) , Dwight Davis (13) , Lenny Wilkens (8) , Cleveland Arena
2,855 , 0–2 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 3 , , October 19, 1973 , , New York
L 92–90
, Austin Carr (28) , Jim Brewer (13) , Lenny Wilkens (10) , Cleveland Arena
5,102 , 0–3 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 4 , , October 20, 1973 , , @

Milwaukee Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...

L 88–101
, Austin Carr (24) , Dwight Davis (12) , Carr, Rule (4) , Milwaukee Arena
8,837 , 0–4 , -style="background:#ccffcc;" , 5 , , October 23, 1973 , , Portland
W 96–103
, Lenny Wilkens (30) , Bingo Smith (15) , Austin Carr (7) , Cleveland Arena
2,437 , 1–4 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 6 , , October 26, 1973 , , N Buffalo
L 97–104
, Dwight Davis (19) , Dwight Davis (14) , Lenny Wilkens (7) ,

Maple Leaf Gardens Maple Leaf Gardens is a historic building located at the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church and Wellesley, Church Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The building was originally constructed in 1931 as an indoor arena to host ice hoc ...

7,187 , 1–5 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 7 , , October 27, 1973 , , Buffalo
L 111–101
, Austin Carr (27) , Bob Rule (6) , Austin Carr (7) , Cleveland Arena
4,313 , 1–6 , -style="background:#ccffcc;" , 8 , , October 28, 1973 , ,

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

W 99–102
, Austin Carr (31) , Bob Rule (13) , Lenny Wilkens (6) , Cleveland Arena
2,808 , 2–6 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 9 , , October 31, 1973 , , @

L 110–128
, Austin Carr (26) , Bob Rule (7) , Lenny Wilkens (7) , Boston Garden
4,509 , 2–7 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 10 , , November 2, 1973 , ,

L 118–100
, Austin Carr (16) , Jim Brewer (13) ,

(9) , Cleveland Arena
5,361 , 2–8 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 11 , , November 3, 1973 , , @

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

L 94–105
, Austin Carr (26) , Jim Brewer (14) , Smith, Wilkens (3) ,

Chicago Stadium Chicago Stadium was an indoor arena in Chicago from 1929 to 1995. When it was built, it was the largest indoor arena in the world with a maximum seating capacity of 26,000. It was the home of the National Hockey League's Chicago Blackhawks and ...

5,733 , 2–9 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 12 , , November 4, 1973 , ,

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

L 115–110
, Austin Carr (31) , Steve Patterson (10) , Lenny Wilkens (10) , Cleveland Arena
3,587 , 2–10 , -style="background:#ccffcc;" , 13 , , November 6, 1973 , ,

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

W 96–115
, Bingo Smith (22) , Jim Brewer (16) , Lenny Wilkens (14) , Cleveland Arena
3,124 , 3–10 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 14 , , November 9, 1973 , ,

W 106–111
, Bingo Smith (23) , Jim Brewer (13) , Lenny Wilkens (12) , Cleveland Arena
9,149 , 4–10 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 15 , , November 10, 1973 , , @ New York
L 90–100
, Austin Carr (23) , Jim Brewer (9) , Carr, Wilkens (6) ,

Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as the Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh and Eighth Avenue (Manhattan), Eig ...

18,999 , 4–11 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 16 , , November 11, 1973 , , Kansas City–Omaha
L 103–93
, Austin Carr (27) , Steve Patterson (10) , Lenny Wilkens (6) , Cleveland Arena
2,802 , 4–12 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 17 , , November 13, 1973 , , @ Golden State
L 115–128
, Austin Carr (23) , Bingo Smith (11) , Smith, Wilkens (5) , Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
2,194 , 4–13 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 18 , , November 16, 1973 , , @

Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...

L 93–117
, Austin Carr (26) , Dwight Davis (14) , Lenny Wilkens (7) , Seattle Center Coliseum
11,770 , 4–14 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 19 , , November 18, 1973 , , @

L 100–102
, Austin Carr (24) , Steve Patterson (12) , Lenny Wilkens (8) , The Forum
13,205 , 4–15 , -style="background:#ccffcc;" , 20 , , November 22, 1973 , , @

W 104–96
, Austin Carr (27) , Steve Patterson (13) , Carr, Wilkens (4) , Hofheinz Pavilion
4,789 , 5–15 , -style="background:#ccffcc;" , 21 , , November 23, 1973 , , @

W 85–83
, Bingo Smith (20) , Dwight Davis (11) , Lenny Wilkens (8) , Hofheinz Pavilion
3,653 , 6–15 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 22 , , November 25, 1973 , ,

L 107–101
, Austin Carr (26) , Steve Patterson (11) , Austin Carr (9) , Cleveland Arena
4,941 , 6–16 , -style="background:#ccffcc;" , 23 , , November 27, 1973 , ,

W 118–120
, Bingo Smith (34) , Dwight Davis (10) , Lenny Wilkens (20) , Cleveland Arena
3,357 , 7–16 , -style="background:#ccffcc;" , 24 , , November 28, 1973 , , @

W 96–91
, Bingo Smith (23) , Brewer, Patterson (12) , Lenny Wilkens (11) , Cobo Arena
2,601 , 8–16 , -style="background:#ccffcc;" , 25 , , November 30, 1973 , ,

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

W 110–112
, Austin Carr (34) , Dwight Davis (11) , Lenny Wilkens (9) , Cleveland Arena
2,566 , 9–16 , -style="background:#ffcccc;" , 26 , , December 1, 1973 , , @ New York
L 99–119
,

(24) , Dwight Davis (8) ,

(3) , Madison Square Garden
18,922 , 9–17 , -style="background:#ffcccc;" , 27 , , December 2, 1973 , ,

L 130–104
, Fred Foster (18) , Jim Brewer (10) , Jim Cleamons (12) , Cleveland Arena
2,354 , 9–18 , -style="background:#ccffcc;" , 28 , , December 5, 1973 , , @

W 89–75
, Austin Carr (26) , Dwight Davis (15) , Bingo Smith (5) ,

Spectrum A spectrum (: spectra or spectrums) is a set of related ideas, objects, or properties whose features overlap such that they blend to form a continuum. The word ''spectrum'' was first used scientifically in optics to describe the rainbow of co ...

4,230 , 10–18 , -style="background:#ffcccc;" , 29 , , December 7, 1973 , ,

L 96–91
, Austin Carr (18) , Steve Patterson (13) , Jim Cleamons (10) , Cleveland Arena
2,868 , 10–19 , -style="background:#ffcccc;" , 30 , , December 9, 1973 , , Phoenix
L 117–106
, Austin Carr (26) , Dwight Davis (13) , Jim Brewer (9) , Cleveland Arena
3,042 , 10–20 , -style="background:#cfc;" , 31 , , December 11, 1973 , ,

W 100–101 (OT)
, Austin Carr (24) , Jim Brewer (17) , Austin Carr (7) , Cleveland Arena
3,341 , 11–20 , -style="background:#ffcccc;" , 32 , , December 14, 1973 , , Buffalo
L 102–98
, John Warren (24) , Dwight Davis (11) , Bingo Smith (7) , Cleveland Arena
2,593 , 11–21 , -style="background:#ffcccc;" , 33 , , December 18, 1973 , , @ Buffalo
L 93–100
, Austin Carr (24) , Brewer, Davis (12) , Austin Carr (6) ,

Buffalo Memorial Auditorium Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, colloquially known as The Aud, was a multipurpose indoor arena in downtown Buffalo, New York. Opened on October 14, 1940, it was home to the Canisius Golden Griffins men's basketball, Canisius Golden Griffins (Nationa ...

10,224 , 11–22 , -style="background:#ffcccc;" , 34 , , December 19, 1973 , , @ Kansas City–Omaha
L 92–106
, Carr, Cleamons (21) , Davis, Smith (9) , Cleamons, Smith (4) ,

Omaha Civic Auditorium Omaha Civic Auditorium was a multi-purpose convention center located in Omaha, Nebraska. Opened in 1954, it surpassed the Ak-Sar-Ben Coliseum as the largest convention/entertainment complex in the city, until the completion of CHI Health Center ...

6,047 , 11–23 , -style="background:#cfc;" , 35 , , December 21, 1973 , ,

W 96–101
, Austin Carr (30) , Dwight Davis (10) , Jim Brewer (8) , Cleveland Arena
2,173 , 12–23 , -style="background:#cfc;" , 36 , , December 22, 1973 , , @

W 108–98
, Austin Carr (39) , Steve Patterson (10) , Dwight Davis (7) , The Omni
5,602 , 13–23 , -style="background:#cfc;" , 37 , , December 23, 1973 , ,

W 91–99
, Dwight Davis (23) , Dwight Davis (10) , Jim Cleamons (8) , Cleveland Arena
3,074 , 14–23 , -style="background:#ffcccc;" , 38 , , December 26, 1973 , , @

L 110–123
, Austin Carr (29) , Jim Brewer (14) , Jim Brewer (7) , Milwaukee Arena
9,986 , 14–24 , -style="background:#ffcccc;" , 39 , , December 27, 1973 , , Kansas City–Omaha
W 110–100
, Austin Carr (24) , Dwight Davis (12) , Austin Carr (9) , Cleveland Arena
5,417 , 14–25 , -style="background:#ffcccc;" , 40 , , December 29, 1973 , , N

L 92–111
, Jim Cleamons (18) , Dwight Davis (16) , Jim Cleamons (5) , Providence Civic Center
6,321 , 14–26 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 41 , , December 30, 1973 , ,

L 99–94
, Austin Carr (28) , Dwight Davis (11) , Lenny Wilkens (6) , Cleveland Arena
6,442 , 14–27 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 42 , , January 4, 1974 , , Capital
L 94–91
, Austin Carr (22) ,

, Davis, Smith (9) ,

(7) , Cleveland Arena
3,431 , 14–28 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 43 , , January 5, 1974 , , @

L 86–99
, Austin Carr (15) , Dwight Davis (8) , Jim Cleamons (5) , The Omni
7,370 , 14–29 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 44 , , January 9, 1974 , , @

L 86–90
, Dwight Davis (16) , Luke Witte (11) , Jim Cleamons (5) , Spectrum
2,545 , 14–30 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 45 , , January 11, 1974 , ,

L 106–96
, Austin Carr (25) , Smith, Witte (8) , Austin Carr (7) , Cleveland Arena
4,208 , 14–31 , -style="background:#ccffcc;" , 46 , , January 12, 1974 , , @

W 117–112 (OT)
, Austin Carr (27) , Dwight Davis (16) , Lenny Wilkens (9) , Cobo Arena
5,644 , 15–31 , -style="background:#ccffcc;" , 47 , , January 13, 1974 , ,

W 94–96
, Austin Carr (26) , Dwight Davis (8) , Lenny Wilkens (11) , Cleveland Arena
3,477 , 16–31 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 48 , , January 17, 1974 , , @ Capital
L 86–101
, Austin Carr (22) , Dwight Davis (7) , Lenny Wilkens (8) , Capital Centre
3,217 , 16–32 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 49 , , January 19, 1974 , , @ Kansas City–Omaha
L 108–111
, Austin Carr (31) , Dwight Davis (16) , Lenny Wilkens (6) ,

Kemper Arena Hy-Vee Arena, previously known as Kemper Arena, is an indoor arena located in Kansas City, Missouri. Prior to conversion to a youth sports and community gymnasium facility, Kemper Arena was previously a 19,500-seat professional sports arena. It ...

5,538 , 16–33 , -style="background:#ccffcc;" , 50 , , January 22, 1974 , , @

W 111–110 (OT)
, Lenny Wilkens (24) , Brewer, Witte (13) , Lenny Wilkens (10) , The Forum
13,856 , 17–33 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 51 , , January 23, 1974 , , @ Phoenix
L 103–110
, Bingo Smith (20) , Luke Witte (12) , Lenny Wilkens (13) , Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,017 , 17–34 , -style="background:#ccffcc;" , 52 , , January 25, 1974 , , @ Portland
W 87–84
, Bingo Smith (20) , Steve Patterson (9) , Lenny Wilkens (6) , Memorial Coliseum
8,484 , 18–34 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 53 , , January 26, 1974 , , @ Golden State
L 93–106
, Bingo Smith (22) , Luke Witte (11) , Lenny Wilkens (7) , Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
4,687 , 18–35 , -style="background:#cfc;" , 54 , , January 29, 1974 , ,

W 111–118
, Bingo Smith (27) , Steve Patterson (12) , Lenny Wilkens (10) , Cleveland Arena
4,453 , 19–35 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 55 , , January 30, 1974 , , @

L 108–120
, Lenny Wilkens (24) , Steve Patterson (11) , Lenny Wilkens (8) , Boston Garden
5,970 , 19–36 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 56 , , February 1, 1974 , , Capital
L 107–99
, Austin Carr (28) , Dwight Davis (11) , Cleamons, Wilkens (9) , Cleveland Arena
3,735 , 19–37 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 57 , , February 2, 1974 , , @ New York
L 87–103
, Austin Carr (18) , Patterson, Witte (9) , Lenny Wilkens (4) , Madison Square Garden
19,694 , 19–38 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 58 , , February 3, 1974 , ,

L 108–94
, Steve Patterson (17) , Steve Patterson (15) , Lenny Wilkens (11) , Cleveland Arena
3,406 , 19–39 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 59 , , February 5, 1974 , ,

L 102–87
, Lenny Wilkens (18) , Dwight Davis (12) , Lenny Wilkens (9) , Cleveland Arena
5,291 , 19–40 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 60 , , February 8, 1974 , , @

L 106–120
, Austin Carr (22) , Steve Patterson (16) , Steve Patterson (10) , Hofheinz Pavilion
4,237 , 19–41 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 61 , , February 9, 1974 , , @

L 90–99
, Austin Carr (24) , Steve Patterson (14) , Lenny Wilkens (7) , The Omni
5,534 , 19–42 , -style="background:#ccffcc;" , 62 , , February 10, 1974 , , Buffalo
W 121–125
, Austin Carr (35) , Steve Patterson (10) , Fred Foster (8) , Cleveland Arena
2,997 , 20–42 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 63 , , February 12, 1974 , , Capital
L 107–99
, Lenny Wilkens (22) , Steve Patterson (18) , Steve Patterson (6) , Cleveland Arena
3,549 , 20–43 , -style="background:#ccffcc;" , 64 , , February 16, 1974 , , @ Portland
W 106–101
, Steve Patterson (22) , Steve Patterson (19) , Lenny Wilkens (10) , Memorial Coliseum
5,583 , 21–43 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 65 , , February 17, 1974 , , @

L 97–106
, Lenny Wilkens (25) , Steve Patterson (14) , Lenny Wilkens (7) , Seattle Center Coliseum
14,078 , 21–44 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 66 , , February 19, 1974 , , Golden State
L 104–98
, Austin Carr (34) , Steve Patterson (11) , Lenny Wilkens (11) , Cleveland Arena
2,946 , 21–45 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 67 , , February 21, 1974 , , Golden State
L 122–103
, Austin Carr (26) , Steve Patterson (16) , Lenny Wilkens (6) , Cleveland Arena
1,641 , 21–46 , -style="background:#fcc;" , 68 , , February 22, 1974 , , New York
L 117–110
, Austin Carr (32) , Jim Cleamons (8) , Lenny Wilkens (6) , Cleveland Arena
7,781 , 21–47 , -style="background:#ccffcc;" , 69 , , February 23, 1974 , , @ Capital
W 104–101
, Austin Carr (28) , Dwight Davis (11) , Lenny Wilkens (8) , Capital Centre
9,247 , 22–47 , -style="background:#ccffcc;" , 70 , , February 24, 1974 , , Phoenix
W 97–101
, Lenny Wilkens (19) , Steve Patterson (11) , Carr, Wilkens (6) , Cleveland Arena
3,288 , 23–47 , -style="background:#cfc;" , 71 , , March 1, 1974 , , @

W 110–93
, Austin Carr (28) , Barry Clemens (17) ,

(7) , Spectrum
3,852 , 24–47 , -style="background:#ffcccc;" , 72 , , March 3, 1974 , , @ Capital
L 93–98
, Austin Carr (24) ,

, Patterson (13) , Lenny Wilkens (6) , Capital Centre
5,072 , 24–48 , -style="background:#ffcccc;" , 73 , , March 9, 1974 , , @ Phoenix
L 100–109
, Austin Carr (16) , Dwight Davis (10) , Lenny Wilkens (7) , Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,153 , 24–49 , -style="background:#ffcccc;" , 74 , , March 10, 1974 , , @

L 108–113
, Austin Carr (32) , Steve Patterson (9) , Lenny Wilkens (10) , Hofheinz Pavilion
2,054 , 24–50 , -style="background:#cfc;" , 75 , , March 12, 1974 , ,

W 84–95
, Carr, Smith (24) , Steve Patterson (18) , Lenny Wilkens (9) , Cleveland Arena
4,514 , 25–50 , -style="background:#cfc;" , 76 , , March 15, 1974 , ,

W 103–104
, Lenny Wilkens (24) , Dwight Davis (9) , Austin Carr (6) , Cleveland Arena
7,304 , 26–50 , -style="background:#ffcccc;" , 77 , , March 16, 1974 , , @ Buffalo
L 105–114
, Lenny Wilkens (18) , Steve Patterson (7) , Jim Cleamons (5) , Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
18,000 , 26–51 , -style="background:#cfc;" , 78 , , March 17, 1974 , ,

W 99–115
, Austin Carr (31) , Steve Patterson (15) , Lenny Wilkens (14) , Cleveland Arena
2,891 , 27–51 , -style="background:#cfc;" , 79 , , March 19, 1974 , , Portland
W 103–107
, Bingo Smith (24) , Steve Patterson (16) , Lenny Wilkens (6) , Cleveland Arena
3,379 , 28–51 , -style="background:#ffcccc;" , 80 , , March 20, 1974 , , @ Capital
L 91–101
, Lenny Wilkens (26) , Steve Patterson (13) , Lenny Wilkens (9) , Capital Centre
7,943 , 28–52 , -style="background:#cfc;" , 81 , , March 24, 1974 , , New York
W 92–114
, Lenny Wilkens (22) , Davis, Patterson (8) , Lenny Wilkens (11) , Cleveland Arena
8,829 , 29–52 , -style="background:#ffcccc;" , 82 , , March 26, 1974 , , @

L 98–104
, Carr, Smith (22) , Davis, Patterson (8) , Austin Carr (6) , Chicago Stadium
5,327 , 29–53

References

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:1973-74 Cleveland Cavaliers Season

Cleveland Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–U.S. maritime border and approximately west of the Ohio-Pennsylvania st ...

Cleveland Cavaliers seasons