Clippers Too Much for Short-Handed Celtics
December 20, 2022 - NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
LAS VEGAS, NV - The Maine Celtics hung tough through three-and-a-half quarters but ran out of gas as they chased the Final Target Score, falling to the Ontario Clippers 124-112 in the semifinal round of the Showcase Cup Tournament at the AT&T NBA G League Winter Showcase. Maine (11-7) is eliminated from the tourney, while Ontario (14-4) advances to the finals.
Maine was led by its Two-Way players, Mfiondu Kabengele and JD Davison. Kabengele posted 29 points, eight rebounds and two blocks and Davison put up 18 points, 10 boards, and 10 assists for his first-career triple-double, the second by a Celtic this season and the 23rd in the history of the franchise. Denzel Valentine added 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Marial Shayok tallied 12 points, three rebounds and four assists. Kamar Baldwin and Scottie Lindsey each scored 10 points.
Brandon Boston, Jr. led Ontario with 33 points on 12-19 shooting from the field on assignment from the LA Clippers. Fellow LA assignee Jason Preston logged 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Nate Darling dropped in 19 points on 5-7 shooting from downtown. Xavier Moon and Keaton Wallace each had 15 points and Two-Way player Moussa Diabate totaled 10 points and seven rebounds.
In what has become a common theme this season, the Celtics went to Kabengele on the opening possession, and he rewarded them with an emphatic slam. He would hit a three and a 1-for-2 free throw as he scored seven of Maine's first 12 points, helping them to a three-point lead at the first break. From that point, the Celtics began to struggle with turnovers through the rest of the half, allowing the Clippers to get in front with an 11-2 run powered by a couple of easy looks from three for Darling. Davison connected with Kabengele for a lob in the closing seconds of the first that cut Ontario's lead to eight, 37-29.
Preston and Darling were fueling the Clippers offense early, with Valentine settling in alongside Kabengele to shoulder the load for Maine. Boston and Kabengele traded electrifying dunks, though the Clippers were able to inch ahead further throughout the quarter as the Celtics struggled to replicate Monday night's hot start from beyond the arc. Maine trailed 47-36 with just north of seven minutes on the clock, unable to build a run and get within a few possessions but playing well enough to hang around. Davison's contact finish and second quarter buzzer-beating pull-up triple brought it back to an 11-point game, 67-56 at the half.
Davison and Shayok led a 10-0 run out of the locker room, helping the Celtics trim their deficit to 67-63 and get right back in the game. Reggie Kissoonlal II made his presence felt in his third quarter minutes, nailing a pick-and-pop triple, finishing a lob from Valentine and kicking an offensive board out to Baldwin for a three that brought Maine within one, 79-78. The two squads traded buckets for a stretch, with the Celtics staying within a couple possessions and making a more concerted effort to attack the paint. After a quick response from Ontario, Maine went into the fourth quarter down 99-93 with a target score of 124.
The officials waved off a full-extension, one-handed putback dunk from Kabengele to open the quarter, and the Clippers ripped off six straight points capped off by Boston's step-back jumper to take a commanding 105-93 lead. The Celtics answered back with a 6-0 run of their own to get back within two possessions, but Ontario's stingy defense and Boston's deadly mid-range scoring outlasted the Celtics as they closed out the game on a 9-4 run to take a 124-112 win and advance to the Showcase Cup championship.
The Maine Celtics run at the Winter Showcase ends in the Showcase Cup semifinals. Following a week-long break, the Celtics will return to action on the road against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on Dec. 27 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
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