Short-handed Cavs dominate to stretch series lead over Hawks

Atlanta Hawks forward Mike Scott (32) and Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) watch a loose ball during the second half in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs, Friday, May 22, 2015, in Atlanta. AP PHOTO

ATLANTA–The Cleveland Cavaliers barely missed injured Kyrie Irving on Friday (Saturday, Manila time) as they cruised to a 94-82 victory over Atlanta and a commanding lead in the NBA Eastern Conference finals.

Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James fell one rebound shy of a triple-double, scoring 30 points with 11 assists and nine rebounds to lead the Cavaliers to a second straight victory on the Hawks’ home floor.

It marked the first time this season Eastern Conference top seeds Atlanta dropped back-to-back games at home.

The Cavs now head back to Cleveland for games three and four in the best-of-seven series with a 2-0 lead.

READ: Cleveland Cavaliers top Atlanta Hawks to open Eastern Conference finals

The winners of the series will take on either the Golden State Warriors or Houston Rockets in the NBA finals. The Warriors lead the Western Conference finals 2-0 after two victories over the Rockets at home in Oakland, California.

James was 10-of-22 from the field and eight of his 11 assists led to a Cavs’ three-pointer.

But James said his team’s defensive effort was key in a game in which they held the Hawks to 41.8 percent shooting overall and 23.1 percent — six of 26 — from three-point range.

“That’s where we hang our hat,” James said. “We’re the number one defensive team in the post-season and in order for us to win we have to defend — and that’s what we’re doing.”

The Cavaliers were without Irving, who sat out the contest with lingering left knee trouble.

Cleveland coach David Blatt said doctors had advised that Irving, who is averaging 18.9 points and 3.5 assists in 11 games this post-season, remain on the sidelines.

Atlanta was also dealing with injuries. DeMarre Carroll, who endured a scary knee injury late in game one, started and played 34 minutes.

But the hawks saw forward Al Horford and guard Kyle Korver suffer injuries in the second half.

Horford was sidelined just briefly, but Korver left with a sprained ankle and did not return.