Cleveland came out strong and held a 12-point lead early in the game, but Atlanta responded with a huge second quarter that gave them a 65-60 halftime lead. They continued their strong play in the second half, and turned the game into a blowout.
Turning Point:
Atlanta closed the second quarter on a 27-10 run, allowing them to grab momentum in a game that Cleveland had controlled until that point. The Hawks carried that momentum into the third quarter, which they used to dominate the game.
Key Stat:
The Hawks outscored the Cavs 57-25 from the six minute mark in the second quarter through the end of the third quarter, which really shows just how much Atlanta controlled the game.
Cleveland MVP:
LeBron James had his typical good game, finishing with 21 points. Dion Waiters also chipped in with 19 points off the bench, but only one other player (Kevin Love, 13 points) scored in double figures.
Atlanta MVP:
Reserve point guard Shelvin Mack saw more minutes with Jeff Teague missing the game due to injury, and he made the most of the them. He scored 17 points off the bench on perfect 5/5 shooting (all from behind the arc) in the first half, and sparked the second quarter run where the Hawks grabbed control of the game. Mack finished with a career-high 24 points on 7/8 shooting, including a perfect 6/6 from three-point range.
What’s Next?
Cleveland has a day off before trying to get back on track against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, while Atlanta will travel to Houston to face the Rockets on Saturday.
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