Cavaliers make 20 three-points shots and rout Pistons, 107-90, for 2-0 series lead

LeBron James scored 27 points, J.R. Smith made seven of Cleveland’s NBA playoff record-tying 20 three-point shots, and the host Cavaliers opened a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round series with a 107-90 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.

Kyrie Irving added 22 points for Cleveland, which made 20 of 38 three-pointers and tied the postseason record shared by Golden State (2015), Dallas (2011) and Seattle (1996).

Andre Drummond scored 20 and Reggie Jackson 14 for the Pistons, who have lost 10 straight playoff games against Cleveland. Drummond missed 12 of 16 free throws.

Smith’s outside shooting was a welcomed addition for the Cavaliers, who got 81 points from James, Irving and Kevin Love in Game 1. Smith scored only nine points in the opener, but that didn’t deter him from firing away and he finished seven for 11 from long range.

Cleveland made six three-pointers in the third period and turned a five-point deficit into a 14-point lead.

at Miami 115, Charlotte 103: Dwyane Wade scored 28 points, Hassan Whiteside was eight for eight from the field and finished with 17 points, and the Heat took a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference series. Goran Dragic scored 18 points, Luol Deng finished with 16 and Josh Richardson added 15 for Miami, which had 72 points by halftime and never trailed in the second half. Whiteside added 13 rebounds and has made 17 of 19 shots in the series.

Kemba Walker scored 29 for Charlotte, but took 29 shots. Al Jefferson had 25 on 12-for-17 shooting off the bench, Courtney Lee added 12 and Jeremy Lin had 11 for Charlotte — which has lost 12 straight playoff games.

The score was tied midway through the second quarter, and that’s when Miami took off. The Heat closed a record-setting half with 10 consecutive made shots — eight of them jumpers, four of them three-pointers — to score 23 points in 3 1/2 minutes on the way to building a 72-60 lead by intermission.