Skyforce Use Late Surge to Get Past Red Claws
January 24, 2015 - NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
Portland, ME - January 24, 2015 - Despite a sharp-shooting night from Andre Dawkins, the Maine Red Claws (17-8), presented by Unum, fell to the Sioux Falls Skyforce (14-11) 103-94 in the fourth of five meetings between the two teams this season. The Red Claws fall to 1-3 against Sioux Falls with all three losses coming at a close margin. The previous meeting between these two teams featured a similar result to tonight's as the Red Claws fell 103-96 on January 15th at the D-League Showcase.
The Red Claws started off strong in the first quarter when Ralph Sampson III (12 points, 1 assist, 7 rebounds) grabbed an offensive rebound off a Tim Frazier missed shot and followed up with the put back. Christian Watford (10 points, 4 assists, 5 rebounds) closed out the first quarter strong for the Red Claws, when he put up a shot as time expired that found the back of the net and cut Sioux Falls lead to 27-23 heading into the second quarter.
Dawkins (27 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds), who was playing for Sioux Falls earlier this week, found his groove in the second quarter leading all scorers with 14 points. Dawkins wouldn't stop there as he added another 13 points to his total in the second half. Dawkins struggled in last night's game against Delaware, going 1-13 from behind the arc, but he seemed to find a rhythm tonight in his home debut with the Red Claws. With Chris Babb out with a knee injury, Dawkins proved to be a strong replacement and a big contributor from behind the arc hitting 8 of a team high18 three point attempts.
Dawkins was one of five Red Claws players who hit double-digits in points tonight. Tim Frazier (18 points, 13 assists, 8 rebounds) continued his 2014-15 success against Sioux Falls coming only two rebounds short tonight of his second triple-double of the season. Frazier's first triple-double came against Sioux Falls on December 6th in a 122-114. Frazier was just three points shy of another triple-double against the Skyforce in their January 15th meeting at the NBA D-League Showcase in Santa Cruz, California. Also hitting double digits for the Red Claws tonight were Ralph Sampson III, Christian Watford (10 points, 4 assists, 5 rebounds) and Omari Johnson (10 points, 4 rebounds).
Down by only one going into the fourth, the Red Claws looked for a game-changing play. Dawkins started the run of back-to-back action for the Red Claws when he drained a three pointer as he was getting fouled with 7:00 remaining in the fourth quarter. Dawkins went to line and converted the four point play which gave the Red Claws an 82-80 lead. Sioux Falls would answer, but the Red Claws pressed right back up the court hitting the next two baskets giving them an 86-82 lead which forced Sioux Falls to take a timeout at 5:57.
Sioux Falls would prove to be the better team late in the game as they went on a 17-2 run in the final 5:57 of play. All but three Sioux Falls players shot in double digits on the night. Fuquan Edwin (21 points, 7 rebounds) led the Skyforce in scoring, but Tyler Johnson (18 points, 10 assists, 3 rebounds) proved to be an offensive contributor with his team high 10 assists. Following Edwin and Johnson's double-digit scoring were Scotty Hopson (20 points, 2 assists, 6 rebounds), Shawn Jones (16 points, 3 assists, 12 rebounds), Khem Birch (10 points, 2 assists, 9 rebounds), and Henry Walker (10 points, 1 assist, 1 rebound).
The Red Claws look to snap their three game losing streak as they talk on the Canton Charge in Canton, Ohio on Friday, January 30th at 7:00pm. The Red Claws return to Maine on Saturday, January 31st as they will take on the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in the third of four meetings between the Mad Ants this season.
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