The Cleveland Cavaliers has a record night on Wednesday (MAy 4), when they recorded a NBA-record 25 three-pointers during their Game 2 win over the Atlanta Hawks.
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Ten Cavs made 3-pointers, led by J.R. Smith’s seven. Clearly chasing the record book, Dahntay Jones sank his team’s 24th 3 with 2 1-2 minutes left, and Mo Williams poured salt in Atlanta’s wounds by knocking down another.
“I don’t think that’s us”, said the Cavs star, who finished with 27 points in a mere 28 minutes and chipped in four of the 25 triples. “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”. That mark was eclipsed on April 24 when the Golden State Warriors hit 21 against the Houston Rockets.
Kyrie Irving had 19 points and Kevin Love posted a double-double via 11 points and 13 rebounds. “We don’t want to be labeled that”, he told reporters.
Smith led the first-half effort, hitting six 3-pointers. Now this might not end up in a sweep, but the Cavaliers haven’t lost to the Hawks since, and have yet to even lose a game in these playoffs.
“When he’s making shots, it becomes contagious”, said Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue said of Smith. They went on to break the National Basketball Association record for threes in a single game. Both teams began Wednesday three wins from making it a reality.
Cleveland went past Golden State’s record when Kyrie Irving nailed a 3-pointer with 5:06 left in the third quarter.
The defending champion Golden State Warriors, who beat the Cavs in the Finals past year and who most expect will line up again for it all, have always been known as sublime from beyond the arc.
James passed Tim Duncan for fifth place on the career postseason scoring, and when he did there was no hint the Cavs would shoot their way into the record books as well. “If they shoot the ball like that I don’t know if anyone can beat them, to be honest”, said three-point specialist Kyle Korver.
J.R. Smith has a reputation of jacking up 3-point shots whenever, and it’s a reputation he embraces. “My team is handling that, and I’m not going to take my focus off what my job is right now and that’s being in the postseason”, he said.
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The roster of Miami Heat has been upgraded with the emergence of center Hassan Whiteside and addition of former shooting guard of Brooklyn Nets Joe Johnson while Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to play in full force having no injury report as of the moment.
