Cavs pound Hawks to take control of series – Cleveland fires record 25 3-pointers

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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) puts up a 3-point shot against Atlanta Hawks forward Kent Bazemore (24) in the second half during Game 2 of second-round NBA basketball playoff series, on May 4, in Cleveland. (AP)
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) puts up a 3-point shot against Atlanta Hawks forward Kent Bazemore (24) in the second half during Game 2 of second-round NBA basketball playoff series, on May 4, in Cleveland. (AP)

CLEVELAND, May 5, (Agencies): Dropping jump shots from every corner and angle, the Cleveland Cavaliers hit an NBA record 25 3-pointers during a 123-98 runaway win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday to take a 2-0 lead in their NBA second-round playoff series.

J.R. Smith made seven 3s as the Cavs had the most prolific outside shooting game of any team in league history.

From the outset, they were on target and on a tear, and afterward LeBron James struggled to explain it.

“Tonight was a special night for all of us who played,” he 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.”

James made four 3s and scored 27 points for the defending conference champions, who were able to rest their starters for the entire fourth quarter. Their arms were probably tired.

Cleveland finished 25 of 45 behind the arc and had 10 players make at least one 3.

“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. They 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.

The Cavs spent the final few minutes chasing history and when reserve Dahntay Jones dropped the Cavs’ 24th 3 with 2:24 left, it bettered the mark of 23 previously held by Orlando (2009) and Houston (2013). Mo Williams added another 3 for good measure.

Golden State, who beat the Cavaliers in last year’s Finals and seem to be on a collision course with them again, recently set the postseason mark by making 21 3-pointers. Stephen Curry and Co. now have a new bar to aim at.

Smith made six 3-pointers in the first half — the Cavs knocked down seven straight during one dizzying stretch — as Cleveland built a 38-point lead over the stunned Hawks, who will head home for Friday’s Game 3 utterly demoralized.

There was little 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, the easygoing Smith skipped back on defense like a little kid on a schoolyard playground as Cleveland’s towel-waving fans danced with delight and smelled blood.

“When he’s making shots, it’s contagious,” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said.

By halftime, the Hawks were down 74-38 and finished. 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 record when Kyrie Irving nailed a 3-pointer with 5:06 left in the third quarter.

Paul Millsap scored 16 points and Jeff Teague added 14 for the Hawks, who need to regroup quickly or they’ll get swept by the Cavs for the second straight year.

“That was overwhelming,” Hawks guard Kent Bazemore said. “They shot (really well) in Game 1, but that was amazing”

 

Veteran big man Chris Bosh, reportedly in a standoff with the Miami Heat over his health, won’t return for the Heat in this NBA post-season, the player and team said on Wednesday.

“The Miami Heat and Chris Bosh announce that Chris will not be playing in the remainder of the 2016 NBA Playoffs,” a joint statement from player and club said.

“The Heat, Chris, the doctors and medical team have been working together throughout this process and will continue to do so to return Chris to playing basketball as soon as possible.”

Bosh hasn’t played since February 9 due to a blood clots in his calf.

He missed the second half of the 2014-15 season due to blood clots, with a clot migrating to his lungs and forcing him into a hospital stay.

In March, Bosh issued a statement saying his condition this season had “never been life threatening” and he was confident he would return to the court.

The Heat, however, have been reluctant to put him back on the floor, according to some reports because Bosh was taking blood thinners to combat the clots.

Last week Bosh posted a Snapchat video of himself shooting three-pointers with the caption “I still got it”. His wife, Adrienne Bosh, put up several Twitter posts with the hashtag “BringBoshBack”.

Several US media outlets reported Bosh had asked the NBA Players’ Association to intervene on his behalf. He travelled to Toronto, separately from his team-mates, and was on hand when they opened their Eastern Conference semi-final series against the Raptors with a victory.

Bosh is expected to remain with the team throughout the rest of the playoffs.

 

The Indiana Pacers parted company with head coach Frank Vogel on Thursday after five seasons with the franchise.

Pacers President Larry Bird said the team had decided not to renew Vogel’s contract despite the coach expressing his desire to stay on.

“Frank’s not getting fired. His contract is up and I just made the decision not to renew it,” Bird said at a press conference.

Bird said Vogel had made repeated requests to stay on during a 30-minute conversation on Thursday following the decision.

Vogel’s departure comess after the Pacers lost in the first round of the playoffs this season amid speculation of a rift inside the dressing room.

Bird said he believed the Pacers would improve next season when key players such as Paul George returned to full fitness.

“I expect us to be better, and we will be,” Bird said. “Paul coming off an injury and Myles (Turner) making strides, we should be better. What you add to that mix, the franchise is in good shape with some of the guys we have. I always expect greatness.”

Bird suggested the Pacers would move aggressively in the free agency window.

“We know through the grapevine some players who would like to come here and play,” Bird said. “You can’t talk to players this time of year, but you hear it. The new coach might have some ideas of players he’d like.”

 

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