All-Star Trio Leads Red Claws to Victory
February 24, 2017 - NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
Greensboro, NC - February 24, 2017 - The Maine Red Claws, presented by Unum, returned from the All-Star Break with a big road win thanks to their three NBA D-League All-Stars, taking down the Greensboro Swarm Friday night, 120-109.
Playing without Ryan Kelly, who signed a contract with the Atlanta Hawks earlier in the day, Maine (23-14) was led by a very strong performance by Abdel Nader. The Boston Celtics draft pick finished close to a triple-double with 32 points. 9 rebounds and 8 assists. Jalen Jones added 28 points and 6 boards for Maine, and Marcus Georges-Hunt finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists. Arthur Edwards led the bench with 13 points in the win.
Nader started the game strong with four quick points, and 7 in the early going. Georges-Hunt, making his return to the Red Claws after his 10-day contract with the Miami Heat, dropped in his first bucket to give the Red Claws a 12-9 lead. Cat Barber paced the Swarm early, but Maine capped off a 7-0 run with a Coron Williams three-pointer - and Maine found itself with a 32-26 lead after the 1st quarter. Prone to turnovers, the Red Claws only gave the ball away two times in the first period.
The Swarm scored 5 straight off a pair of Maine turnovers to cut it to 50-49. Cat Barber's three-point play - and 19th points of the first half - tied the game at 52. Greensboro out-scored Maine 32-29 in the 2nd quarter. Jones buried his second three-pointer of the half to put Maine up 59-56, and the Red Claws took a 61-58 lead into the break. Maine shot 56% from the floor (23-41), but only 4-13 from three-point range. Greensboro also shot well from the field, shooting 55% (22-40), and also 4-13 from downtown. Jones led the Red Claws with 16 points at the half.
The Red Claws opened the 3rd with back-to-back three-pointers by Nader, extending the lead. Jones buried a triple to make it 70-62, and Dallas Lauderdale's slam made it a ten point lead. Maine started the quarter on a 13-4 run, going up 74-62. Greensboro started to get back in the game, but Nader dropped in another three to extend the lead back to 11 with 5:00 to go. The Swarm cut it to 85-80, but Georges-Hunt drained a three of his own to change the momentum. Maine led 93-82 after three quarters.
Greensboro (12-25) got the lead down to 8 points when Barber's three-point play dropped in with 8:48 to go. After the Swarm cut it to six, Nader drained yet another triple to make it 100-91 Red Claws. Mike Tobey, who just returned from the Charlotte Hornets, made it a five point game, and then Tobey's baseline fadeaway made it 102-99 with 5:00 to go. Georges-Hunt put in a driving lay-up, then buried a three on the next possession. Nader then slammed home a bucket, and fed Georges-Hunt off a steal - the lightning-quick 9-2 run gave Maine a 111-101 lead with 2:56 to go. The Red Claws would make their free throws down the stretch, putting the game away.
The Red Claws shot 53% (41-78) from the field, and 40% (12-30) from three-point range, while shooting 81% (26-32) from the free throw line. Greensboro shot 47% from the floor (41-87), but just 22% (5-23) from downtown (1-10 in 2nd half), and 85% (22-26) from the charity stripe.
Maine returns to action Sunday afternoon at Canton, as the five-game road trip continues. The Red Claws' next home game is March 9 against Westchester. Tickets are on sale by calling 207-210-6655 or visiting MaineRedClaws.com.
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