CLEVELAND _ When Kevin Love came into the locker room after his early warmup at Quicken Loans Arena, he said he didn't make a thing.
"Save them for the game," someone retorted.
The Cavaliers did just that, and it wasn't only Love who had the hot hand.
Something about the Atlanta Hawks brings out the best in the Cavs' long-range shooters. In Tuesday's 123-114 victory, the Cavs set the franchise record with their 17th consecutive game with at least 10 made 3-pointers.
In winning their 15th in their past 16 games, the Cavs made a season-high 20 shots from beyond the arc on 38 attempts.
LeBron James scored 25 points and his 17 assists matched his career high set on Feb. 6 at Washington. Kyle Korver added 19 points, Love contributed 17 points and 12 rebounds and Jeff Green scored 17 off the bench.
Leading the 3-point parade was Korver (6-of-9), followed by Love (4-of-5) and Jose Calderon (4-of-5), James (2-of-3) and Jae Crowder (2-of-6), J.R. Smith (1-of-2) and rookie Cedi Osman (1-of-5).
Calderon tied his season-high with 14 points, making 5-of-7 field goals.
It's hard to explain why the Cavs excel from beyond the arc against the Hawks (6-21), who entered the night tied with Chicago Bulls for the league's worst record. But the history is there.
At Atlanta on March 3, the Cavs set the NBA record with 25 made 3-pointers.
The Cavs' previous season-high of 18 3-pointers came on Nov. 30 at Philips Arena.
The Cavs also made 25 3-pointers against the Hawks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Quicken Loans Arena on May 4, 2016.
On this night, the Cavs made nine from beyond the arc in the first 12 minutes, falling two shy of the NBA record for any quarter they set against the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 31, 2010. They made four in the first 5:10.
Six of their first seven baskets were 3-pointers, with Love making three and James, Crowder and Calderon one each.
Korver wrapped up the 17-consecutive game record with a 3 from the corner as he was falling with 5:55 to go in the second quarter. The shot came off a J.R. Smith assist.
At halftime, the Cavs had connected on 13-of-23 from long distance, their 56.5 percent better than they shot overall (53.7).
But it wasn't just their marksmanship that was worth appreciating. Their passing was on point, showing timing, anticipation and unselfishness.
On Nov. 30, the Cavs had a then-season-high 30 assists. On Tuesday, they assisted on 35-of-48 field goals. Smith totaled a season-high eight, one shy of his career high, which came in 2012 while he was with the New York Knicks.
The game marked the return of Cavs center Tristan Thompson, who hadn't played since Nov. 1 with a left calf injury. Thompson saw action for only six minutes with the second unit, going without a point or a rebound. He watched the second half from the locker room.
Love returned to the lineup after sitting out Saturday against the 76ers with a sore left hip. But the Cavs were without second unit leader Dwyane Wade, sidelined with a sore left knee. Even without Wade, the Cavs reserves outscored the Hawks reserves 51-38.
