Cavs set NBA record with 18 3-pointers in half

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) looks for an open teammate against Atlanta Hawks forward Mike Muscala (31) in the first half during Game 2 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series, Wednesday, May 4, 2016, in Cleveland. AP

CLEVELAND, Ohio—The Cavaliers have set an NBA record by making 18 3-pointers in the first half of Game 2 against Atlanta on Wednesday night.

Led by J.R. Smith’s six 3-pointers, the Cavs went 18 of 27 in a dizzying first 24 minutes. The Cavs broke the postseason record of 12 3-pointers in a half set by Golden State on April 26.

Cleveland also bettered the mark for any half—regular or postseason—of 15 3s set by Golden State twice this year.

The Warriors made 21 3-pointers on April 26, a mark the Cavs can shoot down in the second half.

Cleveland made seven consecutive 3-pointers in the first quarter, when the Cavs opened a 15-point lead. The Cavs didn’t slow their barrage in the second quarter, when they made 10 more 3s.