Cavaliers set NBA record for 3's, while routing Hawks 123-98
BY STONE LEXINGTON
CAVALIERS BEAT WRITER
Threeeeeeeee.
That’s what the Cleveland Cavaliers PA announcer was yelling throughout the team’s matchup with the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday night as Cleveland splashed an NBA record 25 three-pointers en route to a comical 123-98 victory in Quicken Loans Arena. The previous record for three-pointers made in an NBA game was 23.
Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue, however, pointed to another factor in Cleveland’s crushing of Atlanta.
“Outside of the threes, I just though our defense was great,” Lue said. “I thought that was our best defensive effort in a long time. If we can compete and play great defensively, then we can get out and run and we can kind of pretty much get anything we want.”
The Cavs certainly got anything they wanted Wednesday night, allowing their starters to comfortably watch the fourth quarter from the bench. LeBron James led Cleveland with a game-high 27 points, four rebounds and five assists after connecting on 4-of-6 three-pointers. Shooting guard J.R. Smith sank seven threes and finished with 23 points, while Kyrie Irving finished with 19 points, including a 4-of-5 mark from beyond the arc with six assists. Kevin Love drained three three-pointers and recorded his sixth double-double of the playoffs in six games, totaling 11 points and 13 rebounds. If the Cavs fifth starter, Tristan Thompson, would have sank a three-pointer, which he didn’t, the referees might have had to call the contest.
“You just kind of live in the moment,” Irving said when asked how he would describe the night. “It was a special game for all of us as a team…Our pace was amazing tonight and it started on the defensive end. Guys were being special tonight like ‘Bron and J.R. You kind of just get out of the way and just watch.”
It seemed like the Hawks could give the Cavs a contest Wednesday when the score sat at a 16-all tie with 5:41 remaining in the first quarter. However, everything went downhill for the Hawks from there. The Cavs closed the first quarter with a 19-5 run, which included five three-pointers. Cleveland drained eight threes and led 35-20 when the first quarter ended, but the triples didn’t stop raining.
James opened the second quarter with his second three-pointer of the night and Cavs reserve power forward Channing Frye sank another three less than a minute later. By the time halftime arrived, the Cavs had sunk 10 more three-pointers in the second quarter, giving them a total of 18 at the break. Meanwhile, Atlanta recorded two three-pointers in the first half.
Cleveland’s 18 made three-pointers in the first half set and NBA record for triples made in a half. For perspective, in their entire first round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs, the Memphis Grizzlies made a total of 19 three-pointers.
The 3-point barrage helped Cleveland secure a ridiculous 74-38 halftime lead. The 36-point halftime advantage was the biggest by any team in the first half of a playoff game since 1987.
“We took care of home court,” Irving said. “Now we have to go into a hostile environment in Atlanta, and winning on the road in the playoffs is always difficult. We just have to prepare and stick to our gameplan.”
The Cavs finished the night 25-of-45 from three-point range, which helped the squad lead by as many as 41 points in the game and take a 2-0 series lead.
“Have to give them credit,” Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer said. “Great shooting on their part. We need to get better in a lot of areas, probably starting with our transition defense.”
Hawks power forward Paul Millsap led Atlanta with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Jeff Teague finished with 14 points, three rebounds and six assists.
Game 3 is set for Friday evening in Atlanta. If the Cavs come anywhere near 25 three-pointers made on Friday, the Cavs could be headed for their second straight postseason sweep of the Hawks.
POSTED 05/04/2016 23:32
Lake County Sentinel
