Basketball: Cavs dominate Hawks, go up 2-0

LeBron James drives past Jeff Teague in the Cleveland Cavaliers' game two victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Photo / AP

The Cleveland Cavaliers have taken a huge step towards a place in the NBA finals, with a vintage performance from LeBron James guiding the visitors to a 94-82 victory over the Atlanta Hawks this afternoon.

James came close to a monster triple-double, notching 30 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists as the dominant win saw the Cavaliers go up 2-0 in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals series, having taken both encounters in Atlanta's building.

Already missing power forward Kevin Love for the playoffs due to a dislocated shoulder, the Cavaliers rested hobbled point guard Kyrie Irving, yet it didn't make a difference against a Hawks side that shot just 41% from the field and went 6/26 from beyond the arc.

Tristan Thompson hauled down 16 rebounds for the Cavaliers, while Iman Shumpert hit four threes on his way 16 points.

The Hawks had no player score more than 13 points and suffered injury added to insult when the All-Star duo of Kyle Korver and Al Horford both limped off the court late.

The last NBA team to win a playoff series after losing the first two games at home was Dallas over Houston in the 2005 first round.

The series now heads back to Cleveland for the next two games, where the Hawks will have to find a new gear to extend the series and avoid a potential sweep. Game Three is on Monday.