Furious Red Claws' Rally Falls Short, RGV Takes 1-0 Series Lead
April 11, 2013 - NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
PORTLAND, ME - Despite a fast and furious fourth quarter that saw the Maine Red Claws (0-1) pour in 41 points, the rally wasn't quite enough to secure the win in Maine's first ever playoff game, falling to visiting the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (1-0) at the Portland Expo Building on Thursday night, 120-118.
The Red Claws won the tip off and got a quick three pointer from Jermaine Taylor, but the strong play of Rio Grande Valley's Andrew Goudelock, Glen Rice Jr. and Chris Daniels quickly pushed the Vipers ahead, 11-3. Maine rallied with three balls from Taylor and Curtis Jerrells and a runner from Mark Tyndale, but DJ Kennedy sandwiched a pair of three pointers around a Rice runner to push the Rio Grande lead to 12 points. Taylor and Jerrells scored six points to close out the quarter with the Red Claws trailing, 31-19. The second quarter started with a flurry of Red Claws' baskets from Chris Wright and Josh Selby, with Tyndale burying a three pointer to cap a 9-2 run that brought Maine back to within five, but Rice and Daniels caught fire and Andrew Goudelock chipped in five straight points to push the Vipers' lead to eight. Celtics assigned player Fab Melo converted a hook shot before the buzzer to head into the locker room trailing, 59-50.
Rio Grande Valley opened their lead early in the third quarter with a 9-3 run. The Red Claws hung around with six straight points to cut the lead to eight, but a 18-6 run pushed the Vipers to an 93-71 advantage. Melo scored on a traditional three point play to cut the lead to 93-75 to close out the third. The fourth quarter began with a frenzy for the Red Claws, as Josh Selby scored thirteen quick points as part of a run that cut the Rio Grande lead to eight. The Vipers battled back, with Murry scoring five straight to keep the lead around 10 through most of the quarter. The Red Claws then took over the game, with Selby, Jerrells, Taylor and Wright scoring several quick baskets, including three from behind the arc to cut the lead down to four, but Goudelock would not let Rio Grande relinquish the lead, scoring on a three pointer of his own and icing the game with four free throws down the stretch.
Leading Rio Grande Valley in the victory were Daniels (28 points, 11 rebounds), Rice Jr. (27 points, eight rebounds), Goudelock (27), Kennedy (18 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists) and Murry (11).
The Red Claws were paced by Taylor's 29 point, eight rebound effort. Maine also got solid efforts from Selby (28 points, five rebounds), Tyndale (16), Jerrells (16 points, six assists, five rebounds) and double-doubles from Melo (11 points, 10 rebounds) and Wright (10 points, 10 rebounds).
The Red Claws travel to Hidalgo, TX to play Game 2 of the best-of-three series on Saturday at 8:00 PM ET. Game 3, if necessary, will be played on Monday at 8:00 PM, also in Hidalgo.
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