Smith, Cavs rain 3s on Hawks, 123-98

J.R. Smith made seven 3-pointers and the host Cleveland Cavaliers drained an NBA-record 25 3s in a 123-98 runaway win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night inGame2 of their second-round series.

The Cavs made 18 3-pointers in the first half and added seven more after halftime to embarrass the Hawks, who have lost 10 straight postseason games to Cleveland.

Cleveland’s 25 3s are the most in any game — regular or postseason.

LeBron James made four 3s and scored 27 points for the defending Eastern Conference champions, who put on a display of outside marksmanship unlike any in league history. The Cavs hardly missed.

Even their furry mascot, Moondog, got in on the act by making an over-the-head, backward fling from half court on his first try in the final minutes.

Reserve Dahntay Jones made the record-breaking 24th 3with 2:24 left, bettering the mark of 23 previously held by Orlando (2009) and Houston (2013). Mo Williams added another 3 for good measure.

Cleveland finished 25 of 45 behind the arc and had10 players make at least one 3.

Smith made six 3-pointers in the first half— the Cavs knocked down seven straight during one dizzying stretch — as Cleveland built a 38-point lead over the stunned Hawks, whowill head home for Friday’s Game 3 down 2-0 in the series and utterly demoralized.

There was little Atlanta defenders could do against the Cavs, who stood behind the line, took aim and dropped shot after shot after shot.

After making Cleveland’s 16th 3-pointer in the first half, the easygoing Smith skipped back on defense like a little kid on a schoolyard playground as Cleveland’s towel-waving fans danced with delight and smelled blood.

By halftime, the Cavs were up by 36.

Late Tuesday: The defending champions mounted a remarkable comeback without MVP Stephen Curry.

Next game, they might have him back and really get rolling.

Klay Thompson scored 27 points and gave Golden State its first lead of the game on a 3-pointer with 5:33 left, and the Warriors rallied to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 110-99 on Tuesday night for a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series.

Draymond Green added 17 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and four blocked shots in another win without Curry, sidelined with a sprained MCL in his right knee and relished to coaching to help any way he could.

Game 3 is Saturday in Portland, and Curry could be in uniform.