ATLANTA: Right about the time Kevin Love ran off the floor holding his shoulder and Kyrie Irving began dragging his foot up and down the court, the Cavaliers evolved from an offensive juggernaut into a defensive force.
After a slow start Wednesday, that defense and J.R. Smith’s red-hot shooting carried the Cavaliers to a 97-89 victory against the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. The Cavs immediately snatched home-court advantage from the Hawks with Game 2 set for Friday.
Smith set a new postseason career-high with 28 points, LeBron James had 31 points, eight rebounds and six assists, including 14 points in the second quarter, and the Cavs yet again won on a night they received little from Kyrie Irving.