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Cavaliers Set NBA Finals Record with 49 Points in 1st Quarter of Game 4

Alec Nathan@@AlecBNathanX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistJune 10, 2017

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 09:  LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers takes the ball up court Golden State Warriors in Game Four of the 2017 NBA Finals on June 9, 2017 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
Garrett Ellwood/Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers set an NBA Finals record for the most points scored in a quarter Friday night when they poured in 49 over the course of the game's first 12 minutes against the Golden State Warriors

In a 3-0 series hole entering Game 4, the Cavaliers erupted with easily their most efficient frame of the series to date as they shot 58.3 percent from the field and from three in the opening frame. 

Kevin Love (14 points) and Kyrie Irving (11 points) led the scoring charge, while LeBron James nearly got halfway to a triple-double in the historic period with eight points, six assists and four rebounds. 

Perhaps most jaw-dropping, though, was that the Cavaliers easily could have topped the half-century mark had they not missed eight free throws (14-of-22). 

Either way, the offensive outburst was a welcome sight for the Cavaliers, who were outscored 11-0 and shot 0-of-8 from the field over the final three minutes and eight seconds of their 118-113 Game 3 loss. 

According to the Associated Press' Tim Reynolds, the last team to score at least 49 points in a first quarter was when the Phoenix Suns dropped 50 on the Denver Nuggets in November 1990.