Red Claws Drop 87ers for 30th Win
March 31, 2016 - NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
Portland, ME - The Maine Red Claws, presented by Unum, overcame an 11-point deficit to defeat the Delaware 87ers, 127-124 Thursday night. The Atlantic Division champs, Maine (30-19) reached the 30-win plateau for the second straight season.
The Red Claws were led by Levi Randolph with 24 points and 10 rebounds, while Coty Clarke added 22 and 12 boards. James Young, on assignment from the Boston Celtics, scored 23 points off the bench on 7-11 shooting (7-10 from three-point land), Marcus Thornton added 18 points, and Corey Walden scored 12 points and dished out 8 assists.
The game started out in back-and-forth fashion. Randolph paced the Red Claws early with 11 points in the first quarter. Clarke continued his strong offensive play, scoring and getting to the free throw line with frequency. At the end of a very high-scoring first quarter, the Claws led 39-36.
Delaware continued to put the pressure on in the 2nd quarter. The Red Claws took a 57-56 lead on a Coron Williams three pointer. Delaware answered with a quick 8-0 run, with Rodney Carney leading the charge. Carney made four three pointers in the first half alone. Clarke buried a triple late in the period to even the score once again, and back-to-back three's gave the Claws an advantage, but Delaware closed the quarter on a run, out-scoring Maine 35-28 in the 2nd and taking a 71-67 lead into the break.
In the 3rd, Ty Greene continued his strong offensive play, giving the Sevens a seven point lead. Marcus Thornton answered with a three-pointer, but Delaware extended to a ten point advantage at 81-71. Delaware led by as many as eleven in the quarter, but Maine responded late with a long three by Young and a put back by Walden. Maine cut it to four; Delaware led 101-97 after three.
Maine tied the game at 105 on a Randolph floater - then took the lead with a Clarke three-pointer. Baron Davis answered with a three of his own to put Delaware up 110-108. Clarke, Young and Randolph continued to pace the Claws down the stretch, extending Maine to a six point lead, and then Young buried a three to put Maine up 125-118. Carney and Greene hit back-to-back three's to cut it to one with 1:00 to go. Delaware had a chance to take the lead, but Clarke grabbed a crucial rebound to secure possession. Walden hit two critical free throws, and Greene's three pointer to tie it at the buzzer clanged off the iron.
The Red Claws wrap up the regular season Saturday at Westchester. Maine then enters the NBA D-League Playoffs as the #2 seed in the East, facing #3 Canton. The best-of-three series will begin next week, with the dates and times yet to be determined.
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