NBA Playoffs: Cavaliers vs. Hawks Game 3 recap, full highlights

LeBron James and the Cavaliers used a strong fourth quarter to beat the Hawks again, take a 3-0 series lead

At the end of the first half, it looked like the Atlanta Hawks might’ve greatly benefitted from a change of scenery in their Eastern Conference semifinal series in the 2016 NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers. After how terribly the Cavaliers trounced the Hawks in Game 2 to go ahead 2-0 in the series, the Hawks needed to show a different level of both performance and effort on Friday night in Philips Arena. And for most of the night, they did in Game 3.

Through the first half, the home team in the Hawks looked like they were set to send a defiant message to the Cavaliers. They kept the pace with Cleveland in the first quarter despite the Cavs unleashing a bit of an offensive flurry, but it was the second quarter when the Hawks really showed something as they jumped out to a lead over the defending champs in the East behind a fantastic all-around effort from Jeff Teague at point guard. Thus, Atlanta took a six-point lead into the locker room at the half.

Atlanta held onto that lead throughout the third quarter and the Cavaliers still trailed by four points going into the final 12 minutes. However, LeBron James came back in to close out the game for Cleveland and really laid it to the Hawks on both ends of the floor. He was getting to the rim and scoring at will in addition to dominating the boards and facilitating the offense.

LeBron’s efforts spearheaded a huge run for the Cavaliers that gave them the lead which they never relinquished. In fact, the final three minutes were somewhat ho-hum as the Cavs just held onto their lead. The only minor excitement was Teague delivering a hard foul on James with under a minute to play, but nothing major came from that either. The Cavs earned their third victory in as many games in this series and their seventh-straight win in these playoffs.

Three Stars

LeBron James, Cavaliers – 24 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, two steals

Channing Frye, Cavaliers – 24 points, seven rebounds

Jeff Teague, Hawks – 19 points, 14 assists, one rebound

Highlights

"Jefferson with the reverse"

Next Game

The Cavaliers and the Hawks will meet again on Sunday for Game 4 again in Philips Arena. That game will tip-off around 3:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ABC as the Cavaliers look for the sweep.

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