Maine Celtics Fall in Windy City
Published on February 26, 2022 under NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL - The Maine Celtics, presented by Unum, dropped the first game of a back-to-back against the Windy City Bulls, 127-94.
Eric Demers had 15 points on 4-11 shooting from downtown for Maine (8-9). Wayne Blackshear also had 15 points, adding four rebounds. Deonte Burton finished with 13 points and six rebounds. Chris Clemons and Asante Gist both scored 12 points with Clemons hauling in five rebounds and dishing three assists. Deng Adel tallied 11 points.
Devon Dotson and Marko Simonovic led Windy City (9-11) with 23 points each. Simonivic posted 15 rebounds and seven assists, and Dotson recorded nine assists. Tyler Cook put up 21 points and 10 rebounds. Scottie Lindsay had 19 points and 10 rebounds and Kerwin Roach turned in 15 points. Henri Drell dropped 11 points and blocked five shots.
Clemons got the game going with a three-pointer. Burton racked up five quick points with the Celtics trailing 10-8 at the first timeout. Dotson's finishing around the rim powered the Bulls on a big run that lasted through the rest of the first as the Celtics offense couldn't find a counter. Windy City led 44-20 heading into the second, breaking the record for most points scored by a Maine opponent in the first quarter.
As Dotson and the Bulls kept rolling early in the second, the Celtics defense switched to zone coverage to throw off their rhythm. Blackshear, Burton and Clemons gave Maine's offense life mid-quarter, though Windy City's scoring efficiency separated them further. Missed free throws and unforced turnovers plagued the Celtics for most of the half, leading to a 78-42 deficit at the break. Maine shot 14-42 (33.3 percent) from the floor, 4-21 (19 percent) from deep and 5-12 (41.7 percent) at the line in the first half. Windy City shot 26-47 (56.5 percent) from the floor, 9-19 (47.4 percent) from deep and 9-10 (90 percent) at the line.
The Bulls opened the half on a 13-7 run that was ended by a Charles Cooke putback. Demers buried a three that spurred a Windy City timeout as they led 91-52 five minutes into the third quarter. Cook was a force on the interior, working for offensive rebounds and powering through contact to finish. The Celtics were down by nearly 50 points at times in the third, but with the help of Adel and Demers, a late-quarter run cut into the deficit. Windy City led 105-67 heading into the fourth.
Maine's offense kept up with Windy City's during the final frame, but with the Bulls having a short bench, some starters remained in the game and helped them maintain a sizable lead. As the game wound down, both teams kept their foot on the gas, but the Bulls walked away with a comfortable victory. Maine finished 35-95 (36.2 percent) from the floor, 9-40 (22.5 percent) from deep and 9-16 (56.3 percent) at the stripe. Windy City shot 46-92 (50 percent) from the field, 13-36 (36.1 percent) from deep and 12-17 (70.6 percent) at the stripe.
The Maine Celtics will be back in action Sunday evening against Windy City before traveling to Mississauga, On. to face Raptors 905.
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