Energy Outlast Red Claws for 6th Straight Win
February 5, 2015 - NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
Portland - February 5, 2015 - Despite 34 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists from Phil Pressey, the Maine Red Claws fell to the Iowa Energy 101-96 in the second of three meetings between the two teams this season. The Red Claws had the help of two Boston Celtics assignees tonight- Pressey & Andre Dawkins. Pressey and Dawkins worked hard defensively in the first quarter, but they couldn't stop the scoring spree from Iowa, as Maine was never able to catch the Energy tonight. Iowa finished the first quarter holding onto a 17 point lead, which is a familiar deficit for the Red Claws, as this was the second game in a row where they trailed by 17 at the end of the first quarter.
The Red Claws were looking for a spark going into the second half and they got one from Omari Johnson's (7 points, 1 assist and 5 rebounds) three pointer which led off scoring in the 2nd quarter. Johnson's three pointer sparked a 10-0 run from the Red Claws and cut Iowa's lead down to just six points. Phil Pressey (34 points, 9 assists, 3 steals, and 7 rebounds) contributed to the Red Claws run with a field goal and a three pointer. Iowa would fight back to push their lead up to 13, but Maine had the answer. Jason Calliste's (16 points, 1 assist, 2 rebounds, and 6 rebounds) field goal with 4:24 remaining in the quarter sparked the second Red Claws run of the quarter, this one being the biggest run of the night for the Red Claws at 12-0. Pressey once again led the Red Claws run, this time with a three pointer and two free throws. Mane's second run would cut Iowa's lead down to just 2 going into the fourth quarter.
The Red Claws kept fighting back in the fourth, but they weren't able to stop Iowa's successful shooting during the fourth quarter. Iowa's Damien Wilkins (22 points, 5 assists and 6 rebounds) led the Energy in scoring, but he was assisted by five other Energy players who scored double digits on the night. Chris Allen (21 points, 1 steal and 3 rebounds), Diante Garret (14 points, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 6 rebounds), Larry Owens (13 points, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 3 rebounds), Russ Smith (12 points, 1 assist and 3 rebounds), and Jarnell Stokes (10 points, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 12 rebounds) all followed Wilkins' double digit performance tonight.
Boston Celtics assignee, Phil Pressey, was tonight's player of the game with his 34 total points. Pressey was just one assist and three rebounds away from a triple double, but the Red Claws and Celtics will still be pleased with his performance offensively and defensively tonight. Jason Calliste, with a strong third quarter performance, was the closest Red Claw in scoring behind Pressey with 16 total points going 5-11 from the field and 2-8 from behind the arc. Christian Watford (13 points, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 8 rebounds) and Ralph Sampson III (11 points, 2 steals and 9 rebounds) both had successful nights for the Red Claws. The Red Claws were without the services of point-guard Tim Frazier, as he signed a 10-day contract with the Philadelphia 76ers earlier Thursday afternoon. Frazier is the first Red Claws player to be called up to the NBA this season.
With this loss, the Red Claws fall to 18-10 on the season and remain winless in their last three games at the Expo. The Red Claws look to snap their home game losing streak as they head into a weekend double-header. First, the Red Claws take on the Westchester Knicks Saturday at 7pm followed by the Delaware 87ers Sunday night at 7pm.
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NBA G League Stories from February 5, 2015
- Energy Outlast Red Claws for 6th Straight Win - Maine Celtics
- Energy Win Streak Hits 6 with Win over Maine - Iowa Wolves
- Knicks Assign Early to NBA D-League's Westchester Knicks - G League
- Boston Celtics Assign Andre Dawkins and Phil Pressey to Maine Red Claws - G League
- Boston Celtics Assign Andre Dawkins and Phil Pressey tp Maine Red Claws - Maine Celtics
- McDonald's Players of the Month Named - Indiana Mad Ants
- BayHawks Hang on to Defeat 87ers - Erie BayHawks
- Philadelphia 76ers Sign Tim Frazier to 10-Day Contract - Maine Celtics
- Sixers Sign Tim Frazier from the NBA D-League's Maine Red Claws - G League
- Westchester Knicks and Pepe Auto Group to Host Special Jersey Night - Westchester Knicks
- Red Claws Acquire Romero Osby - Maine Celtics
- Cavaliers Assign Joe Harris to NBA D-League's Canton Charge - G League
- Cavs Assign Joe Harris to Canton Charge - Cleveland Charge
- Canton Takes Charge of Texas - Texas Legends
- Jaron Johnson's Career-High Leads Vipers Over Blue - Rio Grande Valley Vipers
- Blue Comes up Short in South Texas - Oklahoma City Blue
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