NBA: Cavaliers’ three-point barrage helps cool off hot Hornets

Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James dunks against the New York Knicks during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016. AP

LOS ANGELES, United States — Channing Frye scored five of Cleveland’s 14 three pointers as the Cavaliers broke an NBA three-point shooting record in a 100-93 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.

Frye sparked the reigning champion Cavaliers by coming off the bench to score 20 points as Cleveland became the first team in league history to make at least 10 three pointers in their first nine games.

LeBron James helped put the game out of reach with a clutch three pointer in the final minute that extended the host Cavs’ lead to nine and sent the Hornets to their second consecutive defeat.

James finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and passed for eight assists in front of a crowd of 20,500.

Cleveland broke an NBA three-point shooting mark set by the Houston Rockets, who made at least 10 three-pointers in their first eight games to open the 2014-15 season.

Kyrie Irving tallied 19 points, while Kevin Love scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Cleveland. Reserve Iman Shumpert scored 15 points.

Charlotte’s Kemba Walker stretched his streak of scoring at least 20 points in a game to eight as he finished with 21.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist returned from a strained back to score 11 points and grab 10 rebounds.

After starting the year 6-1, the Hornets have lost their last two games to Toronto and Cleveland.

The Hornets led 72-71 entering the final quarter when Shumpert and Frye made three-pointers to give the Cavs the lead.

Frye’s second three-pointer of the fourth extended the lead to 89-80 with just under six minutes to play and followed it up with a mid-range jumper to push the lead to double figures.

Eleven of Frye’s 20 points came in the final quarter.

The Cavaliers began the day ranked second in the league in three-pointers made, averaging 13.1 per game. CBB