Jones, Red Claws Dominate Energy
March 5, 2017 - NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
Des Moines, IA - March 5, 2017 - The Maine Red Claws, presented by Unum, overcame a slow start to dominate the Iowa Energy Sunday, cruising to a 110-82 road victory. Maine improves to 24-16 on the season with the win, maintaining a 1.5 game lead over Delaware in the Atlantic Division with just 10 games to play in the regular season.
Jalen Jones led the Red Claws with 30 points (11-21 shooting) and 8 rebounds. Demetrius Jackson, on assignment from the Boston Celtics, scored 14 points and added 8 rebounds and 7 assists, while Abdel Nader scored 14 points and grabbed 8 boards. Marcus Georges-Hunt also recorded 14 and 8, while Arthur Edwards led the bench scoring with 10 points.
Maine missed its first four shots of the game, before Nader broke through with three points the hard way. Jackson followed that up with a penetrating lay-up of his own, giving Maine a 5-4 lead. Dallas Lauderdale put in back-to-back buckets to complete a 9-0 run for the Red Claws. Iowa followed that up with a 8-0 run of its own, taking a 12-9 lead into the first timeout. It was a rough offensive quarter for both teams - Nader went 2-10 from the floor in the 1st, and Maine only made one three-pointer, shooting 1-14 from downtown and 7-25 (28%) from the field. Iowa led 18-16 after one period of play.
The Red Claws took the game over from there. Josh Hagins stole the opening inbound of the 2nd quarter, and his pair of free throws tied the game up at 18. Jones put in a three-point play, then took a rebound coast-to-coast, as Maine opened up a 27-22 lead. Maine's defense continued to play well, and Iowa continued to be ice cold from downtown - with Maine barely any better. Georges-Hunt dropped in a three late in the 2nd, just the 3rd of the game for the team. Jones and Georges-Hunt took over the game offensively, and Jackson's driving bucket made it 50-36 Red Claws. Lauderdale's alley-oop at the end of the quarter capped off a 36-point quarter - Maine led 52-38 at halftime, despite shooting 40% (20-50) from the floor and 19% (4-21) from downtown. Iowa shot 38% (17-45) from the floor in the first half, and went 0-10 from three-point range.
Georges-Hunt opened the 3rd quarter with a floating shot, as the Energy continued to sputter on offense. Nader's fast break bucket made it an 18-point lead, and off the steal, Jackson's driving lay-up made it 58-38 Claws. Jones and Jackson kept the pressure on, extending the lead to 23 points early in the quarter, opening the 3rd on an 11-2 run. Jones scored five straight points for the Red Claws, as Maine was in full cruise control. Iowa started to come back, going on an 8-2 run late in the 3rd, but Arthur Edwards drained a three on the sideline to stop the bleeding, and Hagins' lay-in at the buzzer made it 79-55 after three.
Maine opened the 4th quarter on a 7-2 run, with great passing finding the open Cameron Ayers for three. Jones added his 30th point at the free throw line, as the Red Claws extended to a 29 point lead. Nader and Georges-Hunt dropped in three-balls to extend the lead to 34 points, at 94-60. Georges-Hunt's three-point play was the exclamation point, as Maine waltzed to victory. The Red Claws shot 43% (43-99) from the field, 26% (11-42) from three-point range, and 13-14 from the free throw line. Iowa shot 39% (35-90) from the floor, just 10% (2-21) from downtown, and 10-14 from the charity stripe.
The Red Claws jump right back into action tomorrow night at Windy City in an 8 p.m. tip-off. Maine returns home Thursday, for a showdown with Westchester at the Portland Expo. Tickets for all remaining home games are on sale now by calling 207-210-6655 or visiting MaineRedClaws.com.
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