Red Claws Snap Streak
Published on January 22, 2016 under NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
Portland, ME- The Maine Red Claws, presented by Unum, powered by Boston Celtics assignee Terry Rozier's strong play on both ends of the court, snapped a four game losing streak to beat the Fort Wayne Mad Ants Friday night at the Portland Expo Building, 113-101. The loss extends the Mad Ants losing streak to five.
Maine (13-11) got off to a slow start, falling into an early 8-2 hole, with Rakeem Christmas, on assignment from the Indiana Pacers, scoring early and often for Fort Wayne (11-12) in the first few minutes of the game. RJ Hunter, on assignment from the Boston Celtics, poured in seven straight for the Red Claws to cut the Mad Ants' lead to 21-17, and Coty Clarke dropped in four late in the quarter, but the visitors took a 26-23 lead after one.
The Red Claws came out firing in the second quarter, going on a 15-4 run in the first 5:14 of the second frame. During the run, a pair of Rozier free throws at 9:15 gave Maine their first lead of the night, 31-30, and it was a lead they would not relinquish. CJ Fair put in six points and Walter Lemon Jr. four down the stretch to keep Fort Wayne close, but a three point play from Levi Randolph with 5.6 seconds remaining sent the Red Claws into the locker room with a 55-47 edge.
Both teams came out of halftime shooting, with the Mad Ants finding an answer for every shot the Red Claws made. Omari Johnson poured in eight in the quarter, but John Lucas III had 12 in the period, including five of the last seven as Fort Wayne cut the Maine lead to three, 78-75.
The Red Claws opened the final stanza on an 11-2 run, sparked by Ralph Sampson and capped off emphatically by a Malcolm Miller dunk to push their lead to 89-77. Lemon, Christmas and Terron Petteway pace an 11-2 run of their own to cut the lead back to three, but Clarke had four straight free throws and Hunter added a basket to add some distance on the scoreboard. Corey Walden, Clarke and Rozier paced a 16-5 run to extend the lead to 113-97. Lemon added a pair of baskets at the end of the game to account for the 113-101 final score.
Lucas led all scorers with 25 points while grabbing five rebounds. Fair (18 points, seven rebounds), Christmas (17 points, eight rebounds), Lemon (14) and Petteway (10) also scored in double figures for the Mad Ants.
The Red Claws were paced by Rozier (20 points, nine rebounds, three steals), while also getting strong performances from Clarke (17 points, five rebounds), Johnson (14 points, eight rebounds), Hunter (13 points, six rebounds, three steals), Walden (12), Miller (11) and Randolph (10 points, five rebounds).
The Red Claws and Mad Ants are at it again tomorrow night at the Portland Expo. Tipoff is at 7:00 PM.
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