Fansided

J.R. Smith and the Cleveland Cavaliers are hitting all of the threes

By Taylor Smith

Apr 22, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) reacts to a call during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) reacts to a call during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 22, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) reacts to a call during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) reacts to a call during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

The Atlanta Hawks surely came into tonight’s Game Two against the Cleveland Cavaliers feeling fairly decent about their odds. Sure, they lost Game One by 11 points, but they still managed to hang with the Cavs for the majority of the game. Of course, if there’s one thing we’ve learned about Atlanta through the years, it’s that you #NeverTrustTheHawks.

The Hawks actually jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead early in this one, but then the Cavaliers decided to start raining threes from the heavens. The playoff record for made three-pointers in a game by one team is 20. In the FIRST HALF of Wednesday night’s game, Cleveland hit 18 from beyond the arc. Eighteen! The Hawks finished the first half with 38 points. The Cavaliers had 39 points in the second quarter alone and led 74-38 at the break.

J.R. Smith led the way with six longballs of his own, capped by this nifty around-the-back effort from the top (via @CavsNationNet):

Skipping down the court is totally an underrated way of getting back on defense.

The Hawks twitter account (@ATLHawks) summed things up pretty well:

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