Los Angeles: The Cleveland Cavaliers fired a record-setting 25 three pointers as they pummelled the Atlanta Hawks 123-98 to seize a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference playoff series on Wednesday.
Cleveland produced 18 first half three pointers which propelled them to a 74-38 halftime lead. JR Smith led the barrage from beyond the arc with seven overall as 10 Cleveland players made three pointers in the second round postseason game.
“When he’s making shots, it becomes contagious,” said Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue said of Smith. Dahntay Jones’ three-pointer with 2:24 remaining in the fourth gave Cleveland the all-time record, surpassing the 2009 Orlando Magic and the 2013 Houston Rockets, who each made 23 threes.
Mo Williams added the final three-pointer on the Cavaliers’ next possession.
“We were getting open shots and taking open shots and we were making them,” Lue said.The Cavaliers also broke the record for most threes in a playoff game of 21, which was set by the Golden State Warriors last month.
The Cavaliers have won their last nine games against the Hawks and all 10 playoff games between the two teams. The series shifts to Atlanta for Game Three on Friday and Game Four on Sunday.
Cleveland’s halftime lead of 36 points is the largest in the NBA during a playoff game since 1987. The Cavaliers also led by as many as 41 points in the third quarter. Lue said he also credited his defence with helping secure the dominating victory.
“Outside of the threes I thought our defence was great,” he said. “That was our best defensive effort in a long time. If we compete and we play great defensively we can get out and run and pretty much get anything we want.”
LeBron James scored 27 points, Smith scored 23 while shooting seven-of-13 from three-point range, and Kyrie Irving had 19 points.
