The Cleveland Cavaliers had just swept the Atlanta Hawks out of the National Basketball Association playoffs, but Kevin Love had more important matters to attend to. Via ESPN Stats and Info, the Cavs are the first team in National Basketball Association history to make 15 3s in four straight games, and that’s including the regular season and playoffs.
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Durant matched his playoff career-high following a 29-point second-half performance.
The Hawks won a franchise-record 60 games in 2014-15.
That still looks like a competitive series, the last two games decided by a total of five points.
Cleveland Cavaliers players, including forward LeBron James (C), celebrate after sweeping the Atlanta Hawks in game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals. Kevin Love led the way with eight and 27 points to go with 13 rebounds.
The Cavaliers easily set a new mark for most three-pointers made in a four-game series, besting their own output of 57 from a first-round sweep of the Detroit Pistons, per NBA History on Twitter.
Kyrie Irving also played a critical role in the triumph, contributing 21 points on the night as the Cavs clinched the tie to book a spot in the finals.
“Obviously, it’s not enough with what we have”, Horford said. “We’re in a great rhythm right now, as far as us three”. “We know where everyone is on the floor and exactly where we should be”.
Their camaraderie was evident when Love was asked if he felt more comfortable in Year 2 with the Cavaliers.
“They played a lot like us, they stuck with their game plan. I’m just so proud of my guys, the way we were able to close out this series tonight”. Irving was already on board, and Love was acquired from Minnesota to complete a revised version of Miami’s Big Three James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Cleveland might not find it this easy in the conference finals. It was a better showing from the Hawks, but an even better one from the Cavaliers.
“This is our second time around”, Irving said.
Longtime Hawks starting point guard Jeff Teague sat out the fourth quarter as head coach Mike Budenholzer opted to run with Dennis Schroder. That’s when James went to work.
Bringing the ball upcourt, the Hawks down seven with two minutes to play, Teague was ambushed by Irving, who stole the ball from behind. The Hawks could not get a shot off after the jump ball.
Schroder’s next shot was blocked by Thompson, and the Cavaliers isolated James on the wing against Millsap.
The Hawks had one last chance to extend the series after James missed a 3-pointer with the clock winding down.
“The trainers would have to tell me he’s good to go”, Kerr said.
As for the Hawks, they were hoping to get some revenge by at least making the series longer.
The King had other ideas. There wasn’t much doubt about who would win the tip; James has a 7-inch height advantage. He swatted the ball toward the sideline, where it somehow wound up in Miillsap’s hands. His desperation heave failed to beat the horn and missed anyway.
Next, the Cavaliers await the victor of the Toronto-Miami series where the Raptors hold a 2-1 lead. It was the second series sweep by the LeBron James lead Cavs over the Hawks in two seasons.
“I think we hit our stride at the right time”, Lue said. It’s really on me at the end of the day. “We love our group”.
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