RED CLAWS FALL AT HOME
January 9, 2018 - NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
Portland, ME - The Maine Red Claws, presented by Unum, had a large lead in the first half, but struggled offensively in the second half, falling to Raptors 905 Sunday, 100-93. The 905 have now won 9 straight games.
Maine (12-11) was led by Boston Celtics Two-Way Player Kadeem Allen with 24 points, 9 rebounds and 5 steals. Guerschon Yabusele, on assignment from the Boston Celtics, scored 15 points, while fellow assignee Abdel Nader scored 11 points. Andrew White scored 15 points, while Two-Way Player Jabari Bird added 14 points.
Raptors 905 (14-10) was led by Lorenzo Brown with 32 points.
Nader started the scoring for Maine with a driving lay-up in the first minute. White and Allen followed that up with a three and two, respectively, and Maine opened up an early 9-2 lead. White's bucket made it 13-5 Maine, forcing an early timeout from the 905. Allen buried a three, then followed that up with a driving lay-up to put Maine up 10. White continued the hot shooting outside, as Maine limited Raptors 905 offensively in the 1st quarter. The Red Claws took a 30-17 lead after 1.
In the 2nd, Yabusele dropped in a long two, and Nader followed that up with a big block, leading to an Allen lay-up. Bird knocked in a straight-on three to maintain the 10 point lead. Off of a steal, Yabusele ran the court and slammed home an alley-oop. Bird's fast-break dunk made it 41-27 just 5:00 into the 2nd. Lorenzo Brown and the 905 cut it to 9 when Brown dropped in a driving bank shot. L.J. Peak and Allen righted the ship for Maine, and the Red Claws took a 53-44 lead into halftime. The Red Claws shot 51.2% (21-41) in the first half, while holding Raptors 905 to 40.9% (18-44) and just 2-12 from downtown.
In the 3rd, the 905 went on a run. Bruno Caboclo, on assignment from the Toronto Raptors, cut the lead to 4 with a reverse lay-in. Raptors 905 went on a 10-2 run to open the quarter. Fellow assignee Alfonso McKinnie knocked in a three to make it 55-54. Brown's free throws gave the 905 their first lead of the game at 58-57. Bird gave the lead back to Maine with a three-ball, and Anthony Bennett knocked in a trey to tie the game at 67. Brown continued the hot shooting for the 905, and former Red Claw Davion Berry knocked in a couple three's, as Raptors 905 took a 77-69 lead after 3.
The Red Claws got it back to 2 points early in the 4th quarter, but former Red Claw Malcolm Miller knocked in a corner three to make it 80-75 in favor of the 905. Yabusele's strong drive for two cut it to 3. Peak hit a huge three to cut it to 92-88. Brown hit a dagger in the final minute to put it away for the 905. Maine shot 42.9% (36-84) from the floor, 35.5% (11-31) from downtown, and 10-13 from the free throw line. Raptors 905 shot 43.6% (41-94) from the field, 32.1% (9-28) from beyond the arc, and 9-10 from the charity stripe.
Maine hits the road for two games this week at the NBA G League Showcase in Mississauga, Ontario. The Red Claws will play Reno on Thursday and Memphis on Saturday. The Red Claws return home Monday, Jan. 15 against Austin.
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- RED CLAWS FALL AT HOME - Maine Celtics
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