ATLANTA — The Cleveland Cavaliers have been on a three-point binge since the first of the year. On Friday, they took it step further and set an NBA record in the process.
The Cavs, who have made at least 10 in their last 13 games, made 25 three-pointers in the 135-130 win over the Atlanta Hawks Friday night in Atlanta. That topped the regular-season record of 24 set on Dec. 16, 2016 by the Houston Rockets against Orlando.
The Cavs also made 25 against the Hawks in the playoffs last year.
“It should have been more,” Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue said.
Kyrie Irving and LeBron James combined for 81 points to lead the effort. Irving made five three-pointers and scored 43 points. James had six three-pointers and scored 38.
Derrick Williams, Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye and Kyle Korver had three three-pointers apiece.
“We came in wanting to take away the three-point line,” Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer said. “It’s a lot harder with the way LeBron James and Kyrie Irving create attention.”
The record-setting three-pointer was made by Korver, a former Hawks player, with 1:17 left. Not only did it break the record, it also enabled the Cavaliers to withstand a furious Atlanta rally.
Atlanta (34-26) was led by Tim Hardaway Jr., who came off the bench to score a career-high 36 points — including five three-pointers — and Paul Millsap, who had 27 points and 10 rebounds.
Celtics 115, Lakers 95: Isaiah Thomas had 18 points and eight assists, and Boston rolled past Los Angeles at Staples Center.
Al Horford had 17 points for the Celtics, who have won seven of their last 10 games. Rookie Jaylen Brown scored 16 points off the bench. With the Celtics leading by double digits, Thomas rested in the fourth quarter.
Jordan Clarkson scored 20 points and D’Angelo Russell added 17 for the Lakers.
Suns 118, Thunder 111: Thunder guard Russell Westbrook had 48 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists in a losing cause.
Eric Bledsoe led a balanced Phoenix scoring attack with 18 points. Six Suns scored in double figures and the bench contributed 55 points for the second home win in as many nights.
Spurs 101, Pelicans 98 (OT): Kawhi Leonard scored a team-high 31 points and Patty Mills nailed a pair of critical three-pointers in overtime to lift the Spurs to their sixth straight win.
The Pelicans scored the first five points of overtime to lead 94-89 but the Spurs responded with eight points in the next 58 seconds to take the lead for good.
Mavericks 104, Grizzlies 101: In his first start with his new team, Nerlens Noel collected 15 points, 17 rebounds, two assists and two blocks to lead the Mavericks.
Bucks 112, Clippers 101: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greg Monroe scored 24 points each, and Milwaukee scored 41 points off 23 Los Angeles turnovers as the Bucks snapped a two-game skid.
Khris Middleton celebrated a return to Milwaukee’s starting lineup with 19 points and nine assists.
76ers 105, Knicks 102: Newly acquired Justin Anderson matched his career high of 19 points and made the go-ahead basket with 24.3 seconds left in Philadelphia’s win.
Dario Saric had 21 points — including 12 in the final 8:42 — to lead the Sixers, who snapped a three-game losing streak.
Lance Thomas scored a season-high 21 points and Derrick Rose had 20 for the Knicks.
Raptors 114, Wizards 106: DeMar DeRozan had 32 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter, and 13 rebounds as the Raptors exacted revenge in their home-and-home set against Washington.
Norman Powell scored 14 of his 21 points in the final period for the Raptors.
John Wall had 30 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, four three-pointers and three blocks for the Wizards.
Magic 110, Heat 99: Nikola Vucevic scored 25 points and Aaron Gordan added 21 to help Orland beat Miami for the third time and win the season series for the first time since 2008-09.
Elfrid Payton had 12 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Magic.
Jazz 112, Nets 97: George Hill scored a season-high 34 points and dished out seven assists while Derrick Favors added 19 points and 12 rebounds to help Utah snap a two-game losing streak.
Quincy Acy scored 18 points off the bench and Brook Lopez added 17 to lead Brooklyn, which lost for the 33rd time in its last 36 games. — Reuters
