Nader, Yabusele Lead Red Claws to Victory
December 12, 2017 - NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
Portland, ME - The Maine Red Claws, presented by Unum, had a star-studded lineup, and rolled to a 102-93 win over Raptors 905 at the Portland Expo.
The Red Claws (7-3) had both Abdel Nader and Guerschon Yabusele on assignment from the Boston Celtics. Nader led all scorers with 19 points and 3 rebounds. Yabusele added 16 points, 5 boards and 3 assists. Celtics Two-Way Players Kadeem Allen (17 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists) and Jabari Bird (18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists) also contributed in the win over the 905 (4-6). Andrew White added 13 points on 4-6 shooting off the bench.
Bird opened up the scoring with a corner three-ball in the opening minutes. Yabusele followed that up with a pair of treys, and Nader added a triple of his own - Maine made 4 of its first 5 three's and took a 12-11 lead. The hot shooting from outside continued, as Maine's first 7 made field goals were all from beyond the arc. Andrew White added a pair of three's - Maine made 7 of 12 from downtown in the 1st quarter, taking a 28-22 lead after one.
In the 2nd, Bird took over, scoring 9 straight points for the Red Claws - Maine's lead extended to 40-30 halfway through the period. Daniel Dixon nailed a corner three to extend the lead to 11. Bird's electric reverse jam in traffic made it 45-34 Red Claws. Maine finally got to the free throw line for the first time in the game in the final minutes of the 2nd, making 5 of 6 attempts. When the dust settled on the half, Maine held a 50-42 lead. The Red Claws shot 17-39 from the field (43.6%) in the first half, and 11-23 (47.8%) from downtown. Raptors 905 shot just 33.3% (15-45) in the half, and 20% (4-20) from three.
Yabusele opened the 3rd quarter with a monster slam to put the Red Claws up 10. Nader hit a tough jump shot and then a pair of free throws to put Maine up 58-46. Yabusele's cross-over hoop and the foul made it 65-54 Red Claws. Allen's driving reverse was followed up by former Red Claw Davion Berry burying a triple for the 905. Devin Williams made his presence known on both sides of the floor in the 3rd, but Raptors 905 cut into the Red Claws' lead - at the end of 3, Maine's lead was 75-67.
In the 4th, Allen rocked the rim with a right handed slam to put the Claws up 12 - then off a block, Allen buried a three to make it 82-67. The Red Claws started the quarter on a 7-0 run. Allen lit up the scoreboard in the 4th quarter, throwing in another big dunk. Nader buried a three with 7:00 to go, and Maine extended to an 87-74 lead. The 905 weren't done - Berry's driving three-point play cut it to 89-82. The 905 cut it to four - but Nader buried a big three-pointer to right the ship. Allen and Nader's free throws put the game away.
Maine shot 43.4% (33-76) from the floor and 40.5% (15-37) from downtown, while going 21-24 from the free throw line. Raptors 905 shot 32.6% (28-86), and just 20% (7-35) from beyond the arc, and 30-36 from the charity stripe.
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