Red Claws Clinch Playoff Berth with 7th Straight Win
Published on March 13, 2016 under NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
Portland, ME - The Maine Red Claws, presented by Unum, clinched their third playoff berth in franchise history, defeating Grand Rapids, 129-123. This is the second straight postseason appearance for Maine. The Red Claws have now won a season-best seven straight games.
Jordan Mickey, on assignment from the Boston Celtics, led the Claws with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocked shots. Omari Johnson added 22 points (8-13 FG, 6-10 3FG), Corey Walden scored 22 points and 4 rebounds, and Malcolm Miller added 20 points (14-15 from the free throw line) and 6 rebounds. Tim Frazier finished with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 14 assists in the win.
Maine (28-15) got off to a slow start, with the exception of Johnson. The wing made four three pointers in the first quarter, propelling Maine to a 20-11 lead. Grand Rapids (18-24) answered in the forms of Henry Sims and Kelsey Barlow. The Drive went on a 21-9 run to close out the quarter, ending the quarter with a 32-29 lead.
Grand Rapids continued the strong play in the second quarter, with Kevin Ebanks and Lorenzo Brown contributing. Frazier's buzzer-beater was waved off, and the Drive enjoyed a 69-59 lead at halftime. Barlow finished with a game-high 32 points, with Sims adding 28 points and 15 rebounds, and Brown finishing with 24 points, 7 rebounds and 12 assists.
The second half was a different story. Miller led the charge in the third quarter, scoring 16 points, the majority of them from the charity stripe. Out-scoring the Drive 34-23, the Red Claws took the lead at 93-92 to close out the third.
In the 4th quarter, Mickey drained a three pointer as the shot clock expired to put Maine up four. Marcus Thornton scored five straight points, and Frazier set up Miller to cap off a run that surged the Claws' lead to nine. From there, the Red Claws cruised and held on to clinch the playoff berth.
Maine shot 53.1% from the field (43-81) and 43.3% (13-30) from downtown. Grand Rapids shot 56.2% (50-89) and 4-10 from three point range.
The Red Claws next travel to Canton Wednesday to make up the game that was postponed on Jan. 20. Maine returns home on Friday, Feb. 18 for a showdown with Iowa, and Sunday, Feb. 20 against Raptors 905 at the Expo. Tickets are on sale by calling 207-210-6655 or visiting MaineRedClaws.com.
NBA G League Stories from March 13, 2016
- Red Claws Clinch Playoff Berth with 7th Straight Win - Maine Celtics
- Kelsey Barlow Scores 32, But Grand Rapids Drive Falls to Maine - Grand Rapids Drive
- Hornets Assign Aaron Harrison to Erie BayHawks - Erie BayHawks
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