Cavs set NBA record with 25 3-pointers vs. Hawks
CLEVELAND — J.R. Smith made seven 3-pointers and the Cleveland Cavaliers drained an NBA-record 25 3s in a 123-98 runaway win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night in Game 2 of their second-round series.
The Cavs made 18 3-pointers in the first half and added seven more after halftime to embarrass the Hawks, who have lost 10 straight postseason games to Cleveland.
Cleveland’s 25 3s are the most in any game — regular or postseason.
LeBron James made four 3s and scored 27 points for the defending Eastern Conference champions, who put on a display of outside marksmanship unlike any in league history. The Cavs hardly missed.
Even their furry mascot, Moondog, got in on the act by making an over-the-head, backward fling from half court on his first try in the final minutes.
Reserve Dahntay Jones made the record-breaking 24th 3 with 2:24 left, bettering the mark of 23 previously held by Orlando (2009) and Houston (2013). Mo Williams added another 3 for good measure.
Cleveland finished 25-of-45 behind the arc and had 10 players make at least one 3.
Smith made six 3-pointers in the first half — the Cavs knocked down seven straight during one dizzying stretch — as Cleveland built a 38-point lead over the stunned Hawks.
There was little Atlanta defenders could do against the Cavs, who stood behind the line, took aim and dropped shot after shot after shot.
After making Cleveland’s 16th 3-pointer in the first half, the easygoing Smith skipped back on defense like a little kid on a schoolyard playground.
By halftime, the Cavs were up by 36 and within three 3-pointers of the postseason record of 21 set by Golden State on April 24.
At that point even the Hawks were done. The team posted on its official Twitter account, “If you take away their 3s, we’re right in this.”
Cleveland went past Golden State’s record when Irving nailed a 3-pointer with 5:06 left in the third quarter.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
