2021–22 Cleveland Cavaliers season

The 2021–22 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 52nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).^[1] The regular season for the league began in the month of October and featured the typical 82-game schedule, returning to its typical format. In the previous season, the league started in the month of December and featured only 72 games due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Cavaliers had the third pick in the 2021 NBA draft, and selected Evan Mobley out of the University of Southern California.^[2] The NBA announced that the All-Star Game will be played at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, which was held February 20, 2022.^[3] The Cavaliers matched their previous win total of 22 on January 7, 2022, improving to 22–17.^[4] The Cavaliers clinched their first winning season without LeBron James since 1998 and their first winning season since 2018 with a 107–101 win over the Orlando Magic on March 28, 2022. The Cavaliers qualified for the postseason, but failed to qualify for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season after losing to both the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks in the play-in tournament.

2021–22 Cleveland Cavaliers season
Head coach	J. B. Bickerstaff
General manager	Mike Gansey
President	Koby Altman
Owners	Dan Gilbert
Arena	Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Results
Record	44–38 (.537)
Place	Division: 3rd (Central) Conference: 8th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	Bally Sports Ohio
Radio	WTAM · WMMS
< 2020–21 2022–23 >

Draft

Main article: 2021 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College / Club
1	3	Evan Mobley	PF/C	United States	USC (Fr.)

With their sole selection in the 2021 NBA draft, the Cavaliers selected Evan Mobley from the University of Southern California as the third overall pick.^[2][5]

Roster

2021–22 Cleveland Cavaliers roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From C 31 Allen, Jarrett 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 243 lb (110 kg) 1998-04-21 Texas C 6 Brown, Moses 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1999-10-13 UCLA F/C 21 Davis, Ed 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1989-06-05 North Carolina G 10 Garland, Darius (C) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 192 lb (87 kg) 2000-01-26 Vanderbilt G 00 Goodwin, Brandon (TW) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1995-10-02 Florida Gulf Coast G 3 LeVert, Caris 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1994-08-25 Michigan F/C 0 Love, Kevin (C) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 251 lb (114 kg) 1988-09-07 UCLA F 24 Markkanen, Lauri 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1997-05-22 Arizona F/C 4 Mobley, Evan 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 2001-06-18 USC G 5 Nembhard, RJ (TW) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1999-03-22 TCU G/F 35 Okoro, Isaac 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 2001-01-26 Auburn F 16 Osman, Cedi 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1995-04-08 Turkey G 6 Pangos, Kevin 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 179 lb (81 kg) 1993-01-26 Gonzaga G 1 Rondo, Rajon 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1986-02-22 Kentucky G 2 Sexton, Collin 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1999-01-04 Alabama F 8 Stevens, Lamar 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1997-07-09 Penn State F 32 Wade, Dean 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 228 lb (103 kg) 1996-11-20 Kansas State G/F 9 Windler, Dylan 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 196 lb (89 kg) 1996-09-22 Belmont	Head coach J. B. Bickerstaff Assistant coach(es) Greg Buckner Mike Gerrity Antonio Lang Sidney Lowe J. J. Outlaw Nate Reinking Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended (GL) On assignment to G League affiliate (TW) Two-way affiliate player   Injured Roster Last transaction: April 2, 2022

Standings

Division

Central Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div	GP
y – Milwaukee Bucks	51	31	.622	–	27‍–‍14	24‍–‍17	12–4	82
x – Chicago Bulls	46	36	.561	5.0	27‍–‍14	19‍–‍22	10–6	82
pi − Cleveland Cavaliers	44	38	.537	7.0	25‍–‍16	19‍–‍22	10–6	82
Indiana Pacers	25	57	.305	26.0	16‍–‍25	9‍–‍32	2–14	82
Detroit Pistons	23	59	.280	28.0	13‍–‍28	10‍–‍31	6–10	82

Conference

Eastern Conference
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB	GP
1	c – Miami Heat *	53	29	.646	–	82
2	y – Boston Celtics *	51	31	.622	2.0	82
3	y – Milwaukee Bucks *	51	31	.622	2.0	82
4	x – Philadelphia 76ers	51	31	.622	2.0	82
5	x – Toronto Raptors	48	34	.585	5.0	82
6	x – Chicago Bulls	46	36	.561	7.0	82
7	x − Brooklyn Nets	44	38	.537	9.0	82
8	pi − Cleveland Cavaliers	44	38	.537	9.0	82
9	x − Atlanta Hawks	43	39	.524	10.0	82
10	pi − Charlotte Hornets	43	39	.524	10.0	82
11	New York Knicks	37	45	.451	16.0	82
12	Washington Wizards	35	47	.427	18.0	82
13	Indiana Pacers	25	57	.305	28.0	82
14	Detroit Pistons	23	59	.280	30.0	82
15	Orlando Magic	22	60	.268	31.0	82

Game log

Preseason

2021 preseason game log Total: 2–3 (Home: 0–2; Road: 2–1)
Preseason: 2–3 (home: 0–2; road: 2–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 5 @ Chicago L 95–131 Collin Sexton (14) Jarrett Allen (10) Ricky Rubio (6) United Center 11,777 0–1 2 October 6 @ Atlanta W 99–96 Collin Sexton (19) Evan Mobley (12) Darius Garland (7) State Farm Arena 11,158 1–1 3 October 8 Indiana L 100–109 Ricky Rubio (14) Lauri Markkanen (7) Dean Wade (4) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 10,024 1–2 4 October 10 Chicago L 101–102 Lauri Markkanen (18) Evan Mobley (10) Ricky Rubio (9) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 10,003 1–3 5 October 15 @ Indiana W 110–94 Cedi Osman (14) Lamar Stevens (8) Darius Garland (4) Gainbridge Fieldhouse 6,028 2–3
2021–22 season schedule

Regular season

2021–22 game log Total: 44–38 (Home: 25–17; Road: 19–21)
October: 3–4 (home: 1–1; road: 2–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 20 @ Memphis L 121–132 Jarrett Allen (25) Markkanen, Mobley (9) Darius Garland (12) FedExForum 15,975 0–1 2 October 22 Charlotte L 112–123 Collin Sexton (33) Kevin Love (11) Ricky Rubio (10) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 17,116 0–2 3 October 23 Atlanta W 101–95 Ricky Rubio (23) Jarrett Allen (14) Ricky Rubio (8) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 16,846 1–2 4 October 25 @ Denver W 99–87 Kevin Love (22) Jarrett Allen (16) Ricky Rubio (8) Ball Arena 14,221 2–2 5 October 27 @ L.A. Clippers W 92–79 Collin Sexton (26) Love, Mobley (10) Darius Garland (6) Staples Center 13,276 3–2 6 October 29 @ L.A. Lakers L 101–113 Evan Mobley (23) Jarrett Allen (9) Darius Garland (11) Staples Center 18,997 3–3 7 October 30 @ Phoenix L 92–101 Cedi Osman (20) Kevin Love (12) Darius Garland (5) Footprint Center 14,516 3–4
November: 8–6 (home: 4–5; road: 4–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 8 November 1 @ Charlotte W 113–110 Lauri Markkanen (21) Jarrett Allen (16) Ricky Rubio (8) Spectrum Center 13,889 4–4 9 November 3 Portland W 107–104 Jarrett Allen (24) Jarrett Allen (17) Darius Garland (10) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 16,231 5–4 10 November 5 @ Toronto W 102–101 Darius Garland (21) Jarrett Allen (15) Darius Garland (8) Scotiabank Arena 19,800 6–4 11 November 7 @ New York W 126–109 Ricky Rubio (37) Jarrett Allen (17) Ricky Rubio (10) Madison Square Garden 19,040 7–4 12 November 10 Washington L 94–97 Ricky Rubio (20) Jarrett Allen (10) Ricky Rubio (5) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 18,056 7–5 13 November 12 Detroit W 98–78 Darius Garland (21) Isaac Okoro (9) Ricky Rubio (9) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 17,095 8–5 14 November 13 Boston W 91–89 Darius Garland (22) Evan Mobley (9) Darius Garland (6) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 19,432 9–5 15 November 15 Boston L 92–98 Ricky Rubio (28) Evan Mobley (9) Mobley, Osman (5) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 17,186 9–6 16 November 17 @ Brooklyn L 99–109 Ricky Rubio (25) Ed Davis (11) Darius Garland (6) Barclays Center 16,922 9–7 17 November 18 Golden State L 89–104 Darius Garland (25) Ed Davis (14) Darius Garland (6) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 19,432 9–8 18 November 22 Brooklyn L 112–117 Darius Garland (24) Jarrett Allen (15) Darius Garland (11) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 17,387 9–9 19 November 24 Phoenix L 115–120 Jarrett Allen (25) Allen, Markkanen (11) Darius Garland (7) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 18,055 9–10 20 November 27 Orlando W 105–92 Darius Garland (26) Jarrett Allen (11) Darius Garland (11) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 18,248 10–10 21 November 29 @ Dallas W 114–96 Jarrett Allen (28) Jarrett Allen (14) Darius Garland (9) American Airlines Center 19,229 11–10
December: 9–6 (home: 5–3; road: 4–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 22 December 1 @ Miami W 111–85 Kevin Love (22) Allen, Mobley (11) Darius Garland (7) FTX Arena 19,600 12–10 23 December 3 @ Washington W 116–101 Darius Garland (32) Jarrett Allen (13) Darius Garland (10) Capital One Arena 17,227 13–10 24 December 5 Utah L 108–109 Darius Garland (31) Evan Mobley (12) Darius Garland (5) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 18,113 13–11 25 December 6 @ Milwaukee L 104–112 Jarrett Allen (25) Jarrett Allen (9) Garland, Rubio (9) Fiserv Forum 17,341 13–12 26 December 8 Chicago W 115–92 Darius Garland (24) Jarrett Allen (12) Ricky Rubio (9) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 17,707 14–12 27 December 10 @ Minnesota W 123–106 Jarrett Allen (21) Kevin Love (13) Darius Garland (12) Target Center 15,694 15–12 28 December 11 Sacramento W 117–103 Isaac Okoro (20) Evan Mobley (15) Darius Garland (13) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 19,432 16–12 29 December 13 Miami W 105–94 Kevin Love (23) Kevin Love (9) Ricky Rubio (7) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 17,401 17–12 30 December 15 Houston W 129–84 Darius Garland (21) Dean Wade (10) Ricky Rubio (12) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 17,131 18–12 31 December 18 @ Milwaukee W 119–90 Cedi Osman (23) Kevin Love (7) Ricky Rubio (10) Fiserv Forum 17,341 19–12 – December 19 @ Atlanta Postponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: March 31)^[6] 32 December 22 @ Boston L 101–111 Darius Garland (28) Kevin Love (12) Garland, Rubio (6) TD Garden 19,156 19–13 33 December 26 Toronto W 144–99 Garland, Love (22) Love, Valentine (9) Darius Garland (8) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 19,432 20–13 34 December 28 @ New Orleans L 104–108 Ricky Rubio (27) Ricky Rubio (13) Ricky Rubio (9) Smoothie King Center 15,835 20–14 35 December 30 @ Washington L 93–110 Kevin Love (24) Kevin Love (11) Kevin Pangos (6) Capital One Arena 15,637 20–15 36 December 31 Atlanta L 118–121 Kevin Love (35) Kevin Love (11) Brandon Goodwin (6) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 17,745 20–16
January: 11–4 (home: 6–1; road: 5–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 37 January 2 Indiana W 108–104 Evan Mobley (24) Jarrett Allen (11) Brandon Goodwin (5) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 17,808 21–16 38 January 4 Memphis L 106–110 Darius Garland (27) Jarrett Allen (12) Darius Garland (10) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 18,178 21–17 39 January 7 @ Portland W 114–101 Darius Garland (26) Jarrett Allen (13) Darius Garland (6) Moda Center 16,708 22–17 40 January 9 @ Golden State L 82–96 Lamar Stevens (17) Allen, Love (7) Rajon Rondo (5) Chase Center 18,064 22–18 41 January 10 @ Sacramento W 109–108 Allen, Love (18) Jarrett Allen (17) Darius Garland (11) Golden 1 Center 12,110 23–18 42 January 12 @ Utah W 111–91 Lamar Stevens (23) Darius Garland (10) Darius Garland (15) Vivint Arena 18,306 24–18 43 January 14 @ San Antonio W 114–109 Darius Garland (32) Jarrett Allen (16) Darius Garland (8) AT&T Center 12,160 25–18 44 January 15 @ Oklahoma City W 107–102 Darius Garland (27) Jarrett Allen (13) Darius Garland (18) Paycom Center 15,284 26–18 45 January 17 Brooklyn W 114–107 Darius Garland (22) Jarrett Allen (10) Darius Garland (12) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 18,105 27–18 46 January 19 @ Chicago L 104–117 Lauri Markkanen (28) Jarrett Allen (10) Darius Garland (12) United Center 20,824 27–19 47 January 22 Oklahoma City W 94–87 Darius Garland (23) Evan Mobley (17) Darius Garland (11) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 19,432 28–19 48 January 24 New York W 95–93 Kevin Love (20) Evan Mobley (12) Darius Garland (12) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 17,321 29–19 49 January 26 Milwaukee W 115–99 Kevin Love (25) Jarrett Allen (10) Darius Garland (8) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 18,904 30–19 50 January 30 @ Detroit L 105–115 Darius Garland (24) Allen, Mobley (9) Darius Garland (7) Little Caesars Arena 16,811 30–20 51 January 31 New Orleans W 93–90 Brandon Goodwin (21) Kevin Love (11) Cedi Osman (12) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 17,637 31–20
February: 5–5 (home: 3–1; road: 2–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 52 February 2 @ Houston L 104–115 Evan Mobley (29) Kevin Love (13) Brandon Goodwin (8) Toyota Center 14,163 31–21 53 February 4 @ Charlotte W 102–101 Jarrett Allen (29) Jarrett Allen (22) Brandon Goodwin (9) Spectrum Center 17,733 32–21 54 February 6 Indiana W 98–85 Cedi Osman (22) Jarrett Allen (17) Rajon Rondo (12) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 19,432 33–21 55 February 9 San Antonio W 105–92 Darius Garland (27) Jarrett Allen (14) Darius Garland (6) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 19,432 34–21 56 February 11 @ Indiana W 120–113 Allen, LeVert (22) Jarrett Allen (14) Rajon Rondo (6) Gainbridge Fieldhouse 15,075 35–21 57 February 12 @ Philadelphia L 93–103 Darius Garland (27) Evan Mobley (8) Caris LeVert (6) Wells Fargo Center 21,057 35–22 58 February 15 @ Atlanta L 116–124 Darius Garland (30) Evan Mobley (10) Darius Garland (8) State Farm Arena 15,947 35–23 59 February 24 @ Detroit L 103–106 Lauri Markkanen (22) Allen, Mobley (8) Rajon Rondo (9) Little Caesars Arena 15,622 35–24 60 February 26 Washington W 92–86 Lauri Markkanen (23) Jarrett Allen (14) Brandon Goodwin (6) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 19,432 36–24 61 February 28 Minnesota L 122–127 Kevin Love (26) Evan Mobley (10) Brandon Goodwin (12) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 18,421 36–25
March: 6–10 (home: 5–5; road: 1–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 62 March 2 Charlotte L 98–119 Darius Garland (33) Jarrett Allen (11) Kevin Love (5) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 19,019 36–26 63 March 4 @ Philadelphia L 119–125 Darius Garland (26) Kevin Love (10) Darius Garland (19) Wells Fargo Center 21,391 36–27 64 March 6 Toronto W 104–96 Lauri Markkanen (22) Evan Mobley (17) Darius Garland (10) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 19,432 37–27 65 March 8 @ Indiana W 127–124 Darius Garland (41) Evan Mobley (12) Darius Garland (13) Gainbridge Fieldhouse 14,066 38–27 66 March 11 @ Miami L 105–117 Darius Garland (24) Evan Mobley (12) Darius Garland (10) FTX Arena 19,600 38–28 67 March 12 @ Chicago L 91–101 Darius Garland (25) Kevin Love (11) Darius Garland (7) United Center 21,727 38–29 68 March 14 L.A. Clippers W 120–111 (OT) Evan Mobley (30) Love, Markkanen (9) Darius Garland (13) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 18,742 39–29 69 March 16 Philadelphia L 114–118 Darius Garland (22) Evan Mobley (9) Garland, LeVert (7) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 19,432 39–30 70 March 18 Denver W 119–116 (OT) Lauri Markkanen (31) Evan Mobley (11) Darius Garland (14) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 19,432 40–30 71 March 19 Detroit W 113–109 Darius Garland (24) Evan Mobley (11) Darius Garland (12) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 19,432 41–30 72 March 21 L.A. Lakers L 120–131 Darius Garland (29) Lauri Markkanen (9) Darius Garland (17) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 19,432 41–31 73 March 24 @ Toronto L 104–117 Lauri Markkanen (20) Kevin Love (10) Darius Garland (10) Scotiabank Arena 19,800 41–32 74 March 26 Chicago L 94–98 Darius Garland (28) Evan Mobley (11) Darius Garland (5) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 19,432 41–33 75 March 28 Orlando W 107–101 Darius Garland (25) Dylan Windler (9) Darius Garland (12) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 19,432 42–33 76 March 30 Dallas L 112–120 Caris LeVert (32) Moses Brown (9) Darius Garland (10) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 19,432 42–34 77 March 31 @ Atlanta L 107–131 Cedi Osman (21) Moses Brown (13) Darius Garland (8) State Farm Arena 17,491 42–35
April: 2–3 (home: 1–1; road: 1–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 78 April 2 @ New York W 119–101 Darius Garland (24) Moses Brown (13) Darius Garland (13) Madison Square Garden 19,812 43–35 79 April 3 Philadelphia L 108–112 Darius Garland (23) Moses Brown (12) Caris LeVert (7) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 19,432 43–36 80 April 5 @ Orlando L 115–120 Darius Garland (27) Kevin Love (13) Darius Garland (10) Amway Center 16,897 43–37 81 April 8 @ Brooklyn L 107–118 Darius Garland (31) Kevin Love (9) Rajon Rondo (5) Barclays Center 18,169 43–38 82 April 10 Milwaukee W 133–115 Kevin Love (32) Love, Mobley (10) Rajon Rondo (13) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 19,432 44–38
2021–22 season schedule

Play-in

2022 play-in game log Total: 0–2 (Home: 0–1; Road: 0–1)
Play-in: 0–2 (home: 0–1; road: 0–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 April 12 @ Brooklyn L 108–115 Darius Garland (34) Kevin Love (13) Rajon Rondo (9) Barclays Center 17,732 0–1 2 April 15 Atlanta L 101–107 Lauri Markkanen (26) Markkanen, Mobley (8) Darius Garland (9) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 19,432 0–2
2021–22 season schedule

Transactions

Main article: List of 2021–22 NBA season transactions

Trades

August 3, 2021^[7]	To Cleveland Cavaliers Ricky Rubio	To Minnesota Timberwolves Taurean Prince 2022 WAS second−round pick Cash considerations
August 28, 2021^[8]	To Cleveland Cavaliers Lauri Markkanen	To Portland Trail Blazers Larry Nance Jr.
	To Chicago Bulls Derrick Jones Jr. 2022 POR protected first-round pick 2023 CLE second-round pick

Free agency

Re-signed

Player	Signed
Jarrett Allen^[9]	August 6, 2021

Additions

Player	Signed	Former team
Trevon Scott^[10]	September 8, 2021	Salt Lake City Stars

References

1. "2021–22 Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
2. "Cavaliers Select Evan Mobley with Third Overall Pick in 2021 NBA Draft". Cleveland Cavaliers. NBA.com. July 29, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
3. "Future locations for NBA All-Star Weekend". NBA.com. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
4. "Cavaliers vs. Trail Blazers - Game Summary - January 7, 2022 - ESPN".
5. "2021 NBA Draft results: Picks 1-60". National Basketball Association. August 1, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
6. "Full list of NBA game postponements". NBA.com. December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
7. "Cavaliers Acquire Ricky Rubio from the Minnesota Timberwolves". NBA.com. August 3, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
8. "TRAIL BLAZERS ACQUIRE FORWARD LARRY NANCE JR. IN THREE-TEAM TRADE". NBA.com. August 28, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
9. "Cavaliers Sign Jarrett Allen to Multi-Year Extension". NBA.com. August 6, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
10. Adams, Luke (September 8, 2021). "Cavaliers Sign Tre Scott To Camp Deal". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved January 4, 2022.