Basketball On The Internet.

THE Cleveland Cavaliers hit an NBA record 25 3-pointers in their 123-98 route of the Atlanta Hawks today, seizing a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference Semi Final series.

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

Just give yourself pause to drink that stat in, given the NBA's long history AND the facts there’s a team of decent shooters called the Golden State Warriors busy running around again at present too.

But the Cavs? They’re scoring from everywhere, with even  LeBron James unable 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.”

King James had four threes of his own and scored 27 points for the defending conference champs, who rested their starters for the fourth quarter. They were probably stuffed from sticking long bombs, Cleveland nailing 25-of-45 and with no less than 10 players scoring one.

Matty Dellavedova was among the 10.

“When they put those shots down, I don’t know if anyone can beat them, to be honest,” Atlanta’s Kyle Korver said.

And Korver knows something about shooting threes.

The Hawks now have lost 10 straight postseason games to Cleveland.

Smith made six 3-pointers in the first half - the Cavs knocked down seven straight during one dazzling stretch - as Cleveland built a 38-point lead over the demoralised Hawks.
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By halftime, the Cavs led 74-38.

With tongues firmly in cheeks, the Hawks tweeted on their official Twitter account:  “If you take away their 3s, we’re right in this.”

Yeah. Good one.

NBA PLAYOFFS

EASTERN CONFERENCE

SEMI FINAL:
Cleveland 104, Atlanta 93
Cleveland 123, Atlanta 98
Cleveland leads 2-0

Miami 102, Toronto 96
Miami leads 1-0

FIRST ROUND:
Indiana 100, Toronto 90
Indiana 87, Toronto 98
Indiana 85, Toronto 101
Indiana 100, Toronto 83
Indiana 99, Toronto 102
Indiana 101, Toronto 83
Indiana 84, Toronto 89
Toronto advances 4-3

Atlanta 102, Boston 101
Atlanta 89, Boston 72
Atlanta 103, Boston 111
Atlanta 95, Boston 104
Atlanta 110, Boston 84
Atlanta 104, Boston 92
Atlanta advances 4-2

Cleveland 106, Detroit 101
Cleveland 107, Detroit 90
Cleveland 101, Detroit 91
Cleveland 100, Detroit 98
Cleveland advances, 4-0

Miami 123, Charlotte 91
Miami 115, Charlotte 103
Miami 80, Charlotte 96
Miami 85, Charlotte 89
Miami 88, Charlotte 90
Miami 97, Charlotte 90
Miami 106, Charlotte 73
Miami advances 4-3

WESTERN CONFERENCE

SEMI FINALS:

San Antonio 124, Oklahoma 92
San Antonio 97, Oklahoma 98
Series tied 1-1

Golden State 118, Portland 106
Golden State 110, Portland 99
Golden State leads 2-0

FIRST ROUND:
Golden State 104, Houston 78
Golden State 115, Houston 106
Golden State 96, Houston 97
Golden State 121, Houston 94
Golden State 114, Houston 81
Golden State advances 4-1

Oklahoma 108, Dallas 70
Oklahoma 84, Dallas 85
Oklahoma 131, Dallas 102
Oklahoma 119, Dallas 108
Oklahoma 118, Dallas 104
Oklahoma advances 4-1

San Antonio 106, Memphis 74
San Antonio 94, Memphis 68
San Antonio 96, Memphis 87
San Antonio 116, Memphis 95
San Antonio advances 4-0

Los Angeles 115, Portland 95
Los Angeles 102, Portland 81
Los Angeles 88, Portland 96
Los Angeles 84, Portland 98
Los Angeles 98, Portland 108
Los Angeles 103, Portland 106
Portland advances 4-2