Hawks are latest to fall into Cavaliers' clutches

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio --- Arms flailing, fists pumping, a crazed look behind those designer eyeglasses, Cleveland coach Mike Brown nearly jumped out of his suit.

A few feet away, Cavaliers reserve forward Wally Szczerbiak was sprawled on the Quicken Loans Arena floor after taking a charge against Atlanta's Marvin Williams in the third quarter of Cleveland's 99-72 win over the Hawks on Tuesday night.

Brown wanted to rush out to Szczerbiak, pick him up and maybe plant a kiss on his cheek. Same for LeBron James, who moments earlier let Joe Johnson run him over in the foul lane at full speed, drawing a charge and stopping a 2-on-1 break.

To Brown, those selfless plays are more thrilling than any dunk or length-of-the-court buzzer beater.

"Man, those are exciting plays for me," Brown said. "Those guys are sacrificing for the team."

Defense defines Brown. And defense is what drives his clampdown Cavaliers, who held the Hawks to just 28 points -- 11 in the fourth quarter -- and 30 percent shooting during the second half of their series-opening rout, Cleveland's fifth straight double-digit win in the NBA playoffs.

The Cavaliers are allowing just 76.8 points per game, more than 11 fewer than the next team -- Houston (87.9) -- still alive in the postseason. Cleveland has been doing it with defense all season.

The Cavs were ranked No. 1 in points allowed, the only team to hold opponents to fewer than 92 per game.

The Cavs blew it open by getting physical with Smith, holding him to five second-half points. Bibby also was held to five and Joe Johnson, who averaged 21.4 during the regular season, scored just 11 as Delonte West and James took turns on Atlanta's top scorer.

"They did a great job defensively as far as double teaming and trying to keep the ball out of my hands," Johnson said. "I just thought in the second half, we just kind of gave up."

The Hawks kept center Al Horford out of practice on Wednesday with a sore right ankle. Atlanta coach Mike Woodson said that Horford would be a game-time decision for today's Game 2.