Red Claws Win in Record-Setting Comeback
November 12, 2016 - NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
FRISCO, TX - November 12, 2016 - The Maine Red Claws, presented by Unum, erased a 17-point deficit with an unbelievable 4th quarter performance, defeating the Texas Legends Saturday night, 137-131. Maine scored a franchise record 52 points in the final quarter, and 85 points in the second half, also a Red Claws record. The Red Claws were led by Demetrius Jackson, on assignment from the Boston Celtics, with 29 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Abdel Nader, a second round NBA Draft pick by the Celtics, added 27 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists in the win. Marcus Georges-Hunt recorded his first double-double of the season with 21 points and 11 rebounds, Jalen Jones added 21 points of his own, and veteran Asauhn Dixon-Tatum scored 16 points for Maine, a career high.
Texas (0-1) was led by Manny Harris with 49 points, most ever by a Red Claws opponent. The Legends scored 40 points or more in two quarters and still lost the game.
The Red Claws (2-0) started slowly in the 1st quarter, and the Legends started on an absolute tear, making 10 of their first 13 shots, including 5-7 from downtown. Harris dropped 15 points in the opening period, and Texas scored 41 as a team, a record for a Red Claws opponent in a 1st quarter. Jackson kept the Red Claws offense moving, but still trailing after one, 41-29. Texas again started hot in the 2nd quarter extending the lead to 17 points, but Maine was able to weather the storm. Nader went on his own 7-0 run, and the Red Claws were suddenly down just six at 55-49. Maine was within ten points at the end of the half, but a Harris steal and dunk at the buzzer gave the Legends a 63-52 lead at the break. Maine turned the ball over 14 times in the first half.
Harris continued to eat up the Red Claws defense in the 3rd quarter, scoring six consecutive points for Texas as the Legends maintained a double-digit advantage. Still, the Red Claws came back. Dixon-Tatum and Georges-Hunt scored back-to-back buckets to cut it to 73-66. Jackson and Dixon-Tatum hooked up for two straight field goals to get it to six points. Texas led 91-85 after three. The Red Claws out-scored Texas 33-28 in the 3rd quarter.
Jalen Jones scored, and Arthur Edwards dropped in a three, and in the first minute of the 4th quarter, the deficit was suddenly just one point. Harris and the Legends went on an 8-2 run to control the game with 8:53 to play. The Red Claws again roared back. Georges-Hunt's two-handed slam with 6:30 to go gave Maine its first lead at 104-103. Nader and Jackson took over the game down the stretch, extending Maine's lead to as high as ten points. Harris kept Texas in it with his performance, but when the dust settled, the Red Claws put up a whopping 52 points to Texas' 40. The Red Claws shot 50% (45-90) from the floor, 43% (12-28) from three-point range, and 90% (35-39) from the charity stripe.
The Red Claws finish the three-game road swing Tuesday night at Rio Grande Valley. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. and can be seen on Facebook Live. Maine's home opener is Friday, Nov. 18 vs. Long Island. Tickets are on sale now by calling 207-210-6655 or visiting MaineRedClaws.com.
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