Cavaliers Set NBA Record For 3-Pointers Made

CLEVELAND, Sporting Alert – The Cleveland Cavaliers buried 25 3-pointers to set an NBA Playoffs and season record for most 3s made in a single game, during their 123-98 win over the Atlanta Hawks and take a 2-0 series lead. Complete Box Scores

J.R. Smith led the way for the Cavs with seven made 3s, while LeBron James and Kyrie Irving connected on four each, as the Hawks struggled to recover from the home side’s early success from behind the arc, which left them trailing 74-38 at halftime.

“Tonight was a special night for all of us who played,” James, who led Cleveland with 27 points told reporters.

“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.”

Smith scored 23 points, while Irving added 19 and six assists and Love finished with 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds in the victory.

As a team, the Cavaliers shot 56-percent from long-range on 25-for-45 shooting and those connections helped the Eastern Conference No. 1 seed build a 41 point lead en route to the comfortable victory.

On their thrilling night of shooting the basketball, Cleveland set an NBA record for most made 3-pointers in a quarter (10) and in a half (18). The Cavs also set a team playoff record for points in a half, after putting up 74 at the end of the opening 24 minutes.

Back-to-back 3-pointers from Irving late in the third quarter guided Cleveland past Golden State’s previous playoffs record of 21 3-pointers made, set earlier in this year’s postseason.

“When they put those shots down, I don’t know if anyone can beat them, to be honest,” said Hawks’ Kyle Korver. “We were hoping that they’d start missing at some point.”

The Cavaliers also went on to extend the overall record for 3-pointers made in a season which was previously held by the Orlando Magic (2009) and the Houston Rockets (2013), with 23 – when reserves Dahntay Jones and Mo Williams made long-range shots in the closing minutes.

The defending Eastern Conference champions were even able to rest all their starters for the entire fourth quarter, but stayed quiet on the sidelines during the record chase.

Paul Millsap scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the way for the Hawks, with Jeff Teague added 14 and Kris Humphries finishing with 12 off the bench.

Al Horford, Thabo Sefolosha and Mike Muscla each ended with 10 points for Atlanta, which is trying to avoid getting swept by the Cavs in the second successive postseason.