WARRIORS RALLY TO TOP RED CLAWS
February 1, 2018 - NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
Santa Cruz, CA - The Maine Red Claws, presented by Unum, got off to a scorching hot start, but went ice cold in the second half, falling to the Santa Cruz Warriors, 111-98.
The Red Claws (16-17) were led by Anthony Bennett, who scored 29 points on 10-16 shooting, including 7-12 from downtown. Daniel Dixon added 21 points for Maine, while Devin Williams recorded his 5th straight double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Vitto Brown scored 11 points off the bench. Boston Celtics Two-Way Player Jabari Bird, who had missed 8 straight games with a back injury, returned to action but only played 7 minutes, scoring 2 points and again leaving the game due to injury.
Bennett started the scoring with a straight on three. The Warriors responded, with Cook burying a triple to put Santa Cruz up 2. Dixon and Bennett followed up with back-to-back three's to put Maine up 13-7. Bird and Williams dropped in back-to-back buckets to extend the early lead further. Bennett knocked in two more triples to make it 28-15 Claws. Maine made 8-11 three pointers in the 1st quarter, taking a 36-27 lead after 1.
Davis opened the 2nd quarter with a lay-in off a steal to put the Claws up 13. Santa Cruz mounted a comeback - James Southerland's drive and score cut it to 40-33. Davis stopped the run with two straight buckets. The Warriors got it back to 7 points, but Bennett answered with yet another three. Southerland buried a three to get it to 5 at 56-51, and former Red Claw Damion Lee buried a three to make it a 2 point game. Maine took a 58-56 lead into halftime. Maine shot 53% (23-43) in the first half, and 55% (11-20) from downtown.
The Warriors started the 3rd quarter with a Southerland three, taking the lead by 1. The Red Claws went on a 7-0 run to go up 65-59. Barham knocked in a triple to put Maine up 7. Dixon's driving lay-up made it 73-63 Claws. Vitto Brown heated up from deep, making a pair of three's and extending the lead. Cook knocked in a three to get the Warriors back within 4. Terrence Jones dropped in a trey to make it 78-77, and Cook rattled in a three to tie the game at 80. The Warriors closed the quarter on a 23-6 run, taking a 90-82 lead after 3.
In the 4th, Santa Cruz extended to a 12 point advantage before Bennett's slam cut it to 96-86. Dixon buried a contested three to get it to 9. Cook and Southerland turned things around for Santa Cruz, extending the lead to 105-91. The Claws made one last run - Dixon knocked in a three to cut it to 9, but Cook buried a shot that put it away.
Maine finished the game shooting 42% (36-85) from the field, 43% (18-42) from three-point range, and 50% (8-16) from the free throw line. Santa Cruz shot 51% (45-88) from the floor, 48% (11-23) from downtown, and 67% (10-15) from the charity stripe. After scoring 36 points in the 1st quarter, Maine scored just 40 points in the second half, getting outscored 55-40.
The Red Claws next head to Northern Arizona on Friday night. Maine returns home on Saturday, Feb. 10 to take on Fort Wayne.
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NBA G League Stories from February 1, 2018
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- WARRIORS RALLY TO TOP RED CLAWS - Maine Celtics
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