NBA GAME RECAP

Cavaliers rout Hawks behind NBA record 25 3s

Lindyssports.com Staff

May 04, 2016 at 7:38 pm.

May 4, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dahntay Jones (30) hits a record breaking three-pointer during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Hawks in game two of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 123-98. Photo Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

May 4, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dahntay Jones (30) hits a record breaking three-pointer during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Hawks in game two of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 123-98. Photo Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

CLEVELAND — Setting an NBA record with 25 3-pointers, the Cleveland Cavaliers pounded the Atlanta Hawks 123-98 Wednesday night to take a 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Ten Cavs made 3-pointers, led by J.R. Smith’s seven. Dahntay Jones’ corner 3-pointer with 2:24 left gave the Cavs the all-time record, surpassing the 2009 Orlando Magic and the 2014 Houston Rockets, who each made 23 treys in a game.

Mo Williams added the final 3-pointer on the Cavs’ next possession.

The Cavs’ 18 3-pointers in the first half also set a record. The long-range assault carried Cleveland to a 74-38 halftime lead — the largest in the NBA during a playoff game since 1987. The Cavs led by as many as 41 in the third quarter.

LeBron James scored 27 points, Smith scored 23 while shooting 7-for-13 from 3-point range, and Kyrie Irving had 19 points. Kevin Love added 11 points and 13 rebounds. The Cavs began the night averaging an NBA-best 14.4 3-pointers. They are up over 15 per game now.

Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said the Cavs’ 3-point shooting was a huge concern after Cleveland made 15 3-pointers in its Game 1 victory. This time, the Cavs made their 15th 3-pointer in the second quarter.

The game got so out of hand in the second quarter the Hawks’ official Twitter account couldn’t help but make light of the situation.

“If you take away their 3’s we’re right in this…” the Hawks tweeted.

Paul Millsap had 16 points and 11 rebounds for Atlanta. Jeff Teague scored 14 points and Kris Humphries had 12. Starters for both sides sat out the fourth quarter.

The Cavs have won their last nine games against the Hawks and all 10 postseason games between the two teams.

The series shifts to Atlanta for Game 3 on Friday and Game 4 on Sunday.

NOTES: Hawks F Mike Scott entered the night shooting .615 and 50 percent (8-for-16) on 3-pointers. He had no shot attempts in 19 minutes Tuesday. Scott shot at least 50 percent from the field in six of the Hawks’ first seven postseason games. … Cavs F LeBron James admitted he would like to face Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat, his old team, during the conference finals. Both teams began Wednesday three wins from making it a reality. “It’d be great to play against those guys in the postseason,” James said. “Throughout my whole career, I’ve always wanted to go against Wade in a playoff series. We’ve always talked about it even before we became teammates in ’10. It’s not been heavy on my mind, but it’s crossed my mind throughout my whole career.” … James tied Robert Parish on Wednesday for 13th place on the postseason games played list with 184.

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