Based on a close Game 1 for the Atlanta Hawks against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Game 2 appeared promising.
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Cleveland made seven consecutive 3-pointers in the first quarter, when the Cavs opened a 15-point lead. (10) in the second half during Game 2 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series, Wednesday, May 4, 2016, in Cl…
CLEVELAND (AP) – Your shot, Warriors.
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.
From the outset, the Cavaliers were on a tear, and afterward LeBron James struggled to explain the “special night”. ‘This league has seen so many great teams, so many great players and great shooters and for us to set an all-time record is truly special’.
LeBron James led all scorers with 27 points, adding five assists and contributing four of the team’s three-pointers. Their arms were probably exhausted.
By the time the Cleveland aerial assault was over, there were 10 Cavaliers who had made at least one trey.
“When they put those shots down, I don’t know if anyone can beat them, to be honest, ” Atlanta’s Kyle Korver said. On one hand, they are the team from Game 1 that can rally an 18 point deficit in the second half to take the lead on the road. Clearly chasing the record book, Dahntay Jones sank his teams 24th 3 with 2 1-2 minutes left, and Mo Williams poured salt in Atlantas wounds by knocking down another. Stephen Curry and Co. have a new bar for which to aim.
Led by J.R. Smith, who made seven of 13 3-pointers, the Cavs made 25 of 45 shots from long distance on May 4. The game was over for all intents and purposes after Cleveland came out making 18 of its first 27 3s in the first half, another National Basketball Association record.
“I hope we can continue to do that”, said Cavs coach Ty Lue when asked if Cleveland can keep it up from the outside. But that wasn’t even enough to satisfy the ravenous sellout crowd which was still chanting “Let’s Go Cavs!” with Cleveland leading by 40 points.
The Cavs hit for 25 three-pointers, breaking the old mark of 21 that was set earlier this postseason by the Golden State Warriors.
“It’s a certain way of being a professional”, Paul Millsap said to Cleveland.com.
Not that it would have mattered much. I think what gets lost in translation with Golden State, people call them a jump-shooting team, but what really gets lost is their ability to have multiple guys on the floor that can do multiple things. “The team that’s in attack mode at both ends of the court is the one that has the most success, and there’s a degree of physicality that’s involved in that”.
Seldom-used backup center Mike Muscala, who played 14 minutes, eventually agreed to represent Atlanta. The Cavs get so many open looks thanks to James’ ability to drive and draw more than one defender before finding the open man. Whether it’s Kyrie Irving or Kevin Love or Richard Jefferson or Channing Frye, everyone gets a shot.
At that point even the Hawks were done. Cavaliers assistant Larry Drew coached the Hawks from 2010-2013, compiling a 128-102 record. The Hawks do, however, have four All-Stars from last season and two from this.
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“They’re going to feel very comfortable going into their home building so we have to get better tomorrow”, James said. In addition to passing Tim Duncan for fifth place on the career playoff scoring list, James played in his 184th postseason game, tying him with Robert Parish for 13th place in history.
