CJ Miles joins Kobe, McGrady and Deron in the history books

Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard CJ Miles set a franchise record on Tuesday night after he hit 10 three-pointers on his way to a game-high 34 points in the blowout win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

With his illustrious evening, Miles joins some pretty exclusive company. The only other players in NBA history who made eight threes in a first half were the All-Star trio of Kobe Bryant (in 2003), Tracy McGrady (in 2004) and Deron Williams (who set the NBA record of nine in a half – any half – last March). With only one two-point shot made, a hard-earned lay-up in the second quarter, Miles became just the sixth player to make at least 10 three-pointers and no more than one two-pointer in an NBA game¹.

With each additional three-ball that would fall—some off of screens, some in the corner, others just fantastic execution—the Cavaliers bench grew more animated. Miles knew that his shots were falling, but according to the veteran swingman, he had no idea how many he had drained until the contest was well in hand.

“I knew what [the record] was, but I didn’t know where I was,” said Miles following the game. “I knew that I had hit a few. I knew from last year that I had the eight from Brooklyn, but I didn’t know where I was at during the game, I was just playing. I knew the last two that I made in the fourth quarter, I knew then because Jack told me because he thought I wasn’t going back into the game because of the score. He said ‘You’re close to having the franchise record.’ I was like ‘I didn’t know!’ and then coach put me back in and I got those other two.

“[My teammates] looked for me.  They ran some plays for me. Kyrie called some plays. Coach called some plays. The big guys screened for me. They got me open. All I had to do was get square with the basket. Everything else was just like you practice every day.”

[Related: All of the Above: CJ Miles’ frustration boils over]

1. Thanks, Elias [↩]