Raptors 905 Outpace Maine Celtics
March 2, 2022 - NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
MISSISSAUGA, ON - The Maine Celtics, presented by Unum, dropped their fourth consecutive game as they were downed by Raptors 905, 128-92.
Jaysean Paige led six Celtics in double-figures with 14 points along with five assists. Matt Ryan scored 11 points on 3-8 from deep in his Maine debut. Chris Clemons also had 11 points. Deonte Burton and Juwan Morgan each posted 10 points, with Burton grabbing nine rebounds and Morgan six. Deng Adel put up 10 points and five rebounds. Brodric Thomas finished with six points, seven rebounds and two assists.
Aaron Best led the Raptors with 24 points. Ashton Hagans recorded 18 points, four rebounds and seven assists. Obadiah Noel turned in 14 points. Jodie Meeks dropped 13 points. David Johnson and Justin Smith each registered 12 points and Josh Hall totaled 10 points and five rebounds. Isaac Bonga and Reggie Perry each had nine points, with Bonga hauling in 11 rebounds and Perry nine.
Thomas dropped a dime to a cutting Clemons for the game's opening bucket. Morgan hit a 1-for-2 free throw for his first points since returning from Team USA competition followed by a powerful Burton slam. Ryan entered and quickly hit a corner three off of a no-look jump pass from Burton for his first points as a Celtic. Bonga powered the Raptors to a 7-3 run that put them ahead 20-13. Maine hung around with timely threes, but were less efficient from the field and finished the first quarter with seven turnovers, leading to a 34-24 Raptors lead after 12 minutes.
Ryan and Clemons each knocked down a three early in the second before Maine's shooters cooled down. The Raptors continued to capitalize on turnovers, peaking with a steal and finish in transition followed by a drawn charge in the backcourt by Hagans. With a 44-34 lead, the Raptors kept the pressure on defensively, picking up the Celtics full-court. Maine's effort on the offensive glass chipped away at the lead, capped off by Ryan's 10-foot turnaround that cut it to 49-42. Johnson buried back-to-back triples to spur the Raptors to a 15-4 run that gave them a 64-46 lead at halftime. Maine shot 18-48 (37.5 percent) from the floor, 4-19 (21.1 percent) from long-range and 3-4 (75 percent) from the stripe in the first half. Raptors 905 shot 20-38 (52.6 percent) from the floor, 7-15 (46.7 percent) from long-range and 8-8 (100 percent) from the stripe.
A 5-0 run out of the locker for the Raptors forced a quick Celtics timeout. Maine's offense did it's best to keep up in spite of cold shooting, drawing fouls and getting into the bonus with over five minutes left in the third. The deficit grew larger as the Raptors maintained a quick pace of play, with Hagans, Hall and Perry all contributing offensively as they took 98-63 lead into the final quarter.
The intensity ramped down as the fourth began, with both teams removing most starters from the game. Paige hit a mid-range pull-up, giving the Celtics energy as it went back-and-forth for a handful of possessions. The Raptors would get hot from deep again, going on a run that featured three triples and a layup from NBA veteran Meeks. The Raptors coasted through the final minutes to their largest margin of victory this season. Maine finished at 34-91 (37.4 percent) from the floor, 6-34 (17.6 percent) from deep and 11-17 (62.5 percent) from the line. Raptors 905 shot 44-80 (55.7 percent) from the floor, 15-33 (45.5 percent) from deep and 14-14 (100 percent) from the line.
The Maine Celtics' five-game road trip concludes against the Cleveland Charge on March 4. Raptors 905 travel to Portland to face the Celtics on March 6.
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