var $ = jQuery.noConflict(); $(document).ready(function(){ loadrecapdata('0021600913'); });
Wrap-Up -- On Friday night, the Cavaliers set an NBA record by sinking 25 three-pointers. And as it turned out, they needed about all 25 of them.
The Wine and Gold led by as many as 25 points in the third quarter and by 19 in the fourth before the Hawks rallied to get within one with 1:32 to play. But Kyle Korver canned the record-breaking triple on Cleveland’s next possession and Kyrie Irving hit a layup and six straight free throws to seal the 135-130 win in an entertaining shootout at Philips Arena in Atlanta.
With one-third of the Big Three still on the shelf, Kyrie and LeBron James formed a dynamic duo that combined for 81 points in Friday’s win.
Irving posted his second 40-point game of the season – going off for 43 points on 14-for-21 shooting, including 5-of-8 from long-range. The four-time All-Star, who was perfect in 10 attempts from the stripe, led both teams with nine assists and had four of Cleveland’s seven steals.
LeBron was almost as electric on Friday night – finishing with 38 points on 14-for-27 shooting, including 6-of-10 from beyond the arc, leading both squads with 13 boards to go with eight helpers.
The Cavaliers had won 11 straight games against the Hawks dating back to the 2015 Playoffs before falling in the first meeting to Atlanta earlier this season. Cleveland was determined to get back on the right side of the ledger, canning 14 triples in the first half alone.
The Wine and Gold already has the postseason record for three-pointers in a game – set against these same Hawks, when they drilled 25 bombs in Game 2 of last year’s Conference Semifinals. (And hit 21 more in Game 3.)
On Friday night, they were 25-for-46 from long-range overall, with six Cavaliers notching at least three made threes.
Two other Cavaliers – “Road Trippin’” co-hosts, Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye – finished with 11 points apiece in the win. Jefferson was 3-of-5 from deep off the bench; Frye, 3-of-5 in the starting lineup.
Kyrie and LBJ have monster games as the Wine and Gold get their 42nd win of the season.
Kyle Korver – who played over four seasons in Atlanta and got a nice first-half video tribute by the Hawks – finished with nine points, canning the big triple to stem Atlanta’s late run.
Derrick Williams continued his efficient offensive play, adding nine points on 3-for-5 shooting, including 3-of-4 from long range. And in his second game with the Wine and Gold, Deron Williams chipped in with seven assists in just 17 minutes of action.
The Hawks shot 54 percent from the floor to Cleveland’s 55 percent, outrebounded the Cavaliers by 10, took 10 more free throws and literally doubled their production in the paint, 56-28. But the Wine and Gold’s three-point barrage was too much for Mike Budenholzer’s squad on Friday night in the ATL.
Turning Point -- The Hawks never led on Friday night, but they sure made it interesting down the stretch – going on a 25-7 run in the final five minutes to Cleveland’s 19-point lead to just one, 124-123, on Paul Millsap’s step-back jumper.
But LeBron found a cutting Kyle Korver, who splashed home his third triple of the night – giving the Cavaliers a two-possession lead.
Dennis Schroder got the Hawks to within three with his layup with 7.8 to play, but Kyrie closed the deal by sinking his fifth and sixth straight free throw in the final minute, icing Cleveland’s 42nd win on the season.
By the Numbers – 22-1 … Cavaliers’ record this season when they score at least 100 points and shoot 50 percent from the floor.
Quotable – Coach Tyronn Lue, on his team holding on for Friday night’s win …
”We got up 25 and just got comfortable, messing around with the game. We took some bad shots and didn’t respect one another. They made some tough shots, but we just didn’t respect them down the stretch when we got up 25. We have to be better than that, especially going into a back-to-back. We know we need to get our rest, and not finishing a game off the right way is disappointing.”
Up Next -- The Cavaliers wrap up their three-game road trip, (again) playing the Heat on the second-half of the back-to-back on Saturday night on South Beach. Cleveland stops home quickly for a Monday night meeting with the Heat at The Q before embarking on another three-game junket – traveling to Detroit next Thursday night, followed by Orlando on Saturday and Houston the following night.