Maine Celtics Lose Lead, Fall at Cleveland
March 4, 2022 - NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
CLEVELAND, OH - The Maine Celtics, presented by Unum, led by 10 points at halftime but were outscored 50-35 over the final two quarters as they fell 95-90 to the Cleveland Charge for their fifth-straight loss.
Deng Adel led Maine (8-12) with 18 points, 13 rebounds and four assists. Matt Ryan shot 9-18 for 22 points. Chris Clemons added 17 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Brodric Thomas finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, six assists, a steal and two blocks. Eric Demers went 3-4 from three-point range for nine points.
Cleveland's 50 defensive rebounds set a Maine record for the most ever by an opponent in a single game, topping the previous record of 48 set on Feb. 1, 2019 against the Greensboro Swarm.
Malik Newman finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Charge (3-15). Dylan Windler put up 15 points, five rebounds and six assists on assignment from the Cavaliers. Cameron Young had 13 points. Norvel Pelle totaled 12 points, 17 rebounds and two blocks. Mitch Ballock made three threes on the way to 11 points and Tacko Fall registered 10 points and two blocks.
Ryan came off of a screen and canned a triple from the right wing on the first possession. The Celtics started the game on an 11-0 run with the help of another three from Ryan. Pelle scored four straight for Cleveland to end the run. The Celtics led 16-9 at the first break, with Clemons adding the third of Maine's sixth first-quarter threes out of the timeout. Fall's interior presence allowed the Charge to chip into the deficit, getting within two before Adel finished strong over Fall. Young put up six points in the final minute and change, making the Celtics' lead 30-29 heading into the second.
Demers and Jaysean Paige continued the hot streak, each burying a three as the second began. Demers hit another from distance to put the Celtics ahead 39-31 and force a Charge timeout. Each team produced offense in opposite ways; Cleveland mostly found success going inside to Fall and Pelle while Maine's shooters spaced the floor. Newman pulled the Charge within three with his first made triple in six attempts before Ryan responded with a three of his own. Ryan scored eight points in the final 2:07 of the quarter to give the Celtics a 55-45 advantage at the break. Maine shot 19-52 (36.5 percent) from the floor, 12-32 (37.5 percent) from downtown and 3-3 (100 percent) from the stripe in the first half. Cleveland shot 19-41 (46.3 percent) from the floor, 4-19 (21.1 percent) from downtown and 2-7 (28.6 percent) from the stripe.
Justin James opened the second half with a nine-footer. A 15-7 run from the Charge in the first four minutes tied the game at 60 before Ryan's long-two put Maine back ahead. The Celtics held a small lead until Windler's 1-for-2 free throw gave Cleveland their first lead, 69-68. Adel got it right back for the Celtics with a driving layup. Ballock's corner three gave the Charge another lead, but Adel responded again, this time with an and-one. Ballock hit another three and James added one, helping the Charge go up 80-76 after three.
Adel cut it to two right away before a 6-0 solo run from Newman stretched the Charge's lead to 86-78. Maine's offense couldn't cut into the lead, with Cleveland holding a double-digit advantage until Adel's fastbreak layup cut and Clemons' mid-range pull-up cut it to five, 91-86. Deonte Burton's first points of the night brought Maine within three. The teams traded misses in the final two minutes, with many opportunities for both to change the course of the game. Newman banked home a tough layup to give the Charge a two possession lead. Burton got it within three again for Maine, but Windler was fouled and hit the ensuing free throws to make it 94-90 with 20 seconds to play. Pelle blocked Thomas' layup on the other end and Newman sealed the game with another free throw. The Celtics finished 34-102 (33.7 percent) from the floor, 15-53 (28.8 percent) from distance and 5-8 (62.5 percent) from the line. The Charge finished 35-77 (45.5 percent) from the floor, 10-37 (27 percent) from distance and 10-19 (52.6 percent) from the line.
The Maine Celtics return to the Expo for a matchup with Raptors 905 on Sunday before hosting the Motor City Cruise for a back-to-back on March 10-11.
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