NBA Playoffs: Cleveland Cavaliers Set All-Time Record With 25 Three-Pointers In Game 2 Vs. Hawks


The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Atlanta Hawks by 25 points in Game 2 of their NBA Playoffs series on Wednesday night. Also, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Atlanta Hawks by scoring 25 three-pointers in Game 2 of their NBA Playoffs series on Wednesday night.

Two very true sentences about last night’s Cavs-Hawks game. Two very disappointing facts if you’re the Atlanta Hawks. Two celebratory statements if you’re the Cleveland Cavaliers. And while both feats are impressive and unexpected, only the latter breaks an all-time NBA record, covering both NBA Playoff and regular season history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-scPU0MRaTU

Two weeks ago, if someone had told you that one of the best teams in the NBA would break an all-time 3-point shooting record, captained by an All-Star who just happens to be a former NBA Champion, NBA MVP and NBA Finals MVP — you’d think they were talking about Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.

But King James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, and especially J.R. Smith (who went 7-for-13 from downtown) led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 25-for-45 (55.6 percent) total from 3-point-range, LeBron going 4-for-6 (66.7 percent) himself.

The Atlanta Hawks kept the game close — for the first six minutes. The game was tied 16-16 with 5:41 left in the first quarter. Then the Cavs went on a 14-0 run, starting the second quarter with a 35-20 lead. Cleveland outscored Atlanta by 21 points in the second quarter, giving them a 74-38 lead at halftime. After each team scored 32 points in the third, it didn’t matter that the Hawks outscored the Cavaliers by 11 in the final quarter.

The Cleveland Cavaliers now lead the best-of-seven series 2-0 as the Cavs-Hawks showdown moves to Atlanta for Game 3 and Game 4. LeBron and the Cavs didn’t need a Game 5 against the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs.


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Aside from his four 3-pointers, LeBron James had a game-high 27 points and three steals, with five assists to boot. Irving went 4-for-5 (80 percent) from long distance, scoring 19 points and a game-high six assists (tied with Matthew Dellavedova and Atlanta’s Jeff Teague). Love finished with another double-double, scoring 11 points and pulling down a game-high 13 rebounds. Smith’s game-high nine 3-pointers helped him to 23 points on the night.

Game 2’s stat leaders for the Atlanta Hawks include Paul Millsap with 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Jeff Teague with six assists. No one on the Hawks squad registered more than one steal or blocked shot against the Cavs on Wednesday.

Where To Watch

Game 3 of the NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals featuring Atlanta Hawks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers will be Friday, May 6, at the Philips Arena in Atlanta. As of Thursday evening, plenty of tickets were available for purchase directly through the venue to see the Cavs vs. Hawks live in Georgia for both Game 3 and 4.

Game 3 is set to begin at 7 p.m. EDT, and will air on ESPN. Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, beginning at 3:30 EDT on May 8. Game 4 of the Hawks-Cavs series will air on ABC.

[Photo credit Jason Miller]

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