ATLANTA (AP) - LeBron James scored 31 points, while J.R. Smith made eight 3-pointers and added 28 to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers past the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks 97-89 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Wednesday night.
Making a tough night even worse for the Hawks, they sustained a potentially huge blow in the fourth quarter when DeMarre Carroll went out with a knee injury.
Intent on bringing Cleveland its first NBA title, James sealed the victory with a soaring dunk in the final minute. But Smith was the one who ignited the Cavaliers, going 8-of-12 from 3-point range.
For the Hawks, it was the second straight series in which they've lost the opening game at home. Cleveland will look to take command of the series in Game 2 Friday night.
Jeff Teague led Atlanta with 27 points. Carroll, who had been the Hawks' leading scorer in the playoffs, went down driving to the basket with 4:59 remaining. He was helped to the locker room, not putting any weight on his left leg. Coach Mike Budenholzer said the initial diagnosis was a sprained knee, with an MRI scheduled for Thursday to determine the seriousness.
The Cavaliers took control when Smith knocked down back-to-back 3s in the third quarter. After the second one, he turned toward the Atlanta fans and blew off his right index finger and motioned toward his side, like he was holstering his pistol.
Yep, he was that hot.
Cleveland outscored the Hawks 22-4 over the final 5 minutes of the third quarter and the first 2 minutes of the fourth. In fact, the Cavs scored the first 11 points of the final period for their biggest lead, 85-67.
Carroll's injury left the crowd in silence and would be tough for the Hawks to overcome. Not only was he their main defender on James, he has turned into an offensive force in the playoffs, averaging more than 17 points coming into the first Eastern Conference final in Atlanta history.
Even without Carroll, Atlanta closed to 91-87 with about a minute remaining. But James got loose from Paul Millsap out near the arc, took off down the lane uncontested and slammed home a dunk that finished off the Hawks.
Smith has been a huge addition for the Cavaliers since he was acquired in January as part of a three-team trade with New York and Oklahoma City, a player once known for his selfishness learning to work well with within the confines of a team led by James.
When the Cavaliers really needed Smith in Game 1, he seemed to make every shot.