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Cavaliers drain NBA-record 25 3-pointers in Game 2 rout of Hawks

NBA, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks

CLEVELAND -- 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.

The Cavs made 18 3-pointers in the first half and added seven more after halftime to embarrass the Hawks, who have lost 10 straight postseason games to Cleveland.

Cleveland's 25 3s are the most in any game, regular or postseason, bettering the mark of 23 previously held by Orlando (2009) and Houston (2013).

LeBron James made four 3s and scored 27 points for the defending Eastern Conference champions, who put on a display of outside marksmanship unlike any in league history. The Cavs hardly missed.

"Tonight was a special night for all of us who played," James said. "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."

Even the Cavs' furry mascot, Moondog, got in on the act by making an over-the-head, backward fling from half court on his first try in the final minutes.

"When they put those shots down, I don't know if anyone can beat them, to be honest," said Atlanta's Kyle Korver, one of the game's deadliest shooters. "We were hoping that they'd start missing at some point."

The Cavs never did.

Reserve Dahntay Jones made the record-breaking 24th 3 with 2:24 left. Mo Williams added another 3 for good measure.

Cleveland finished 25-of-45 behind the arc, and 10 Cavs players made at least one 3.

Smith made six 3-pointers in the first half, and the Cavs knocked down seven straight during one dizzying stretch, building a 38-point lead over the stunned Hawks.

There was little that Atlanta defenders could do against the Cavs, who stood behind the line, took aim and dropped shot after shot after shot.

After making Cleveland's 16th 3-pointer in the first half, Smith skipped back on defense like a little kid on a schoolyard playground.

"When he's making shots, it's contagious," Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said.

By halftime, the Cavs were up by 36 and within three 3-pointers of the postseason record of 21, set by Golden State on April 24.

At that point, even the Hawks were done. The team posted on its official Twitter account: "If you take away their 3s, we're right in this."

Cleveland went past Golden State's postseason record when Irving nailed a 3-pointer with 5:06 left in the third quarter.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. 

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