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**Basel** · 01-18-2010, 10:29 AM

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No. 1
Jan. 29, 1980, vs. L.A. Lakers
Result: W, 154-153 (4 OT)
Skinny: No less an authority than legendary radio announcer Joe Tait concurred that this game was the greatest regular season game in the history of the franchise. The Cavaliers set the franchise record for points, and the combined points are the most in any game involving the Cavs. Mike Mitchell had 34 and won the game with a pair of free throws with two seconds left in the fourth overtime. He was fouled by former Cavs center Jim Chones, who fouled out of the game at that point. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 42 points, 17 rebounds and nine blocked shots. By the end of the game, he was being guarded by journeyman Bill Willoughby. Attendance was 13,820 at the Coliseum in Richfield. "Just had to stop the game," Mitchell said. "I knew I had to make both free throws." Added the Cavs' Dave Robisch, who had been Abdul-Jabbar's understudy before being traded to Cleveland, "I don't know if this was the best game I've ever been in, but as far as excitement and thrills go, it definitely was the best game."

No. 2
Dec. 17, 1991, vs. Miami
Result: W, 148-80
Skinny: It was Globetrotters vs. Generals in what still stands as the largest margin of victory in NBA history. Miami was in its fourth season of existence. The Cavs went on a 112-45 "run" that expanded a 36-30 lead to 148-75 before 10,487 at The Coliseum. The Cavaliers shot 75 percent in the second quarter, 62 percent in the third and 43 percent in the fourth quarter, when they outscored the Heat, 42-13. "That was incredible," said Cavs coach Lenny Wilkens. "It was a great display of basketball. They shot the ball, they rebounded the ball and they passed. It doesn't happen very often, but every once in a while, it comes together like this." Steve Kerr was the last player to enter the game for the Cavs, finishing with five points in 11 minutes. "We got up by 30, 40 and then 50 points, and I wasn't in there," he said. "I started to think to myself, ‘Hey, coach. Not even I can blow a 50-point lead.' "

No. 3
April 1, 2006, vs. Miami
Result: W, 106-99
Skinny: Cavaliers coach Mike Brown called it "an instant classic," and no one who saw it would disagree. LeBron James and close friend Dwyane Wade went toe-to-toe, literally, in a fourth-quarter playground showdown that electrified a sold-out crowd at The Q. James scored 18 of his 47 points in the fourth quarter, while Wade had 21 of his 44, matching each other dunk for dunk, 3-pointer for 3-pointer, crazy drive for crazy drive. James called it "a great showcase" and added, "He gave his all, and I gave my all." Miami coach Pat Riley said the showdown was "almost beyond description. People got a view of absolute greatness. The bigger the moment the bigger those two came up. I've seen both those guys do things I haven't seen in a long, long time." James originally was credited with a triple double, getting 12 rebounds and 10 assists, but later lost an assist after an NBA review. Wade had eight rebounds and nine assists.

No. 4
April 3, 1975, vs. New York
Result: W, 100-95
Skinny: Before a then-NBA record crowd of 20,239 at the Coliseum, the Cavaliers stayed in contention for their first-ever playoff berth. "Now I know how other teams feel when they come to Madison Square Garden," New York great Walt Frazier said after listening to the roar for two hours. Cleveland's Jim Cleamons had 17 points in the second half, including 11 in the fourth quarter. He also came up with two huge steals in the final minute. Dick Snyder added 22 points. Unfortunately, the Cavs were denied a playoff spot in a dramatic 95-94 season-finale loss at Kansas City three days later.

No. 5
March 28, 1990, vs. Chicago
Result: L, 117-113 (OT)
Skinny: As if he hadn't tortured the Cavs enough, Michael Jordan, arguably the game's greatest player ever, set his career high with 69 points in front of a sellout (20,273) at the Coliseum. "I know they hate me in Cleveland, but it's just a competitive thing," Jordan said. The point total is the most ever scored in a game involving the Cavaliers — regular season or playoffs. Jordan made 23 of 37 field goals and 21 of 23 free throws, mostly guarded (or not) by Craig Ehlo. "I think I held him to about 60," Ehlo said. The Cavs came back from 11 down in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime. Jordan missed a shot at the buzzer that would have won it in regulation. "I have never seen anything to compare with what Michael did," said then-General Manager Wayne Embry. "Michael Jordan is one in a million, one in a billion," said Hot Rod Williams. "I don't thinkwewill ever see another player like him. He's probably the world's greatest athlete."

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