G League Maine Celtics

Red Claws Erupt to Beat Warriors

Published on January 10, 2015 under NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release


Portland, ME- The Maine Red Claws, presented by Unum, set a new team record with 42 third quarter points on their way to their first victory over the Santa Cruz Warriors in the five game history of the two clubs on Saturday night at the Portland Expo Building, 111-100.

Andre Stringer poured in a career high 23 points, including a 30-foot three pointer to put the game away late.

Maine (16-4) got off to a slow start, allowing Santa Cruz (12-7) to build an early 12 point lead, paced by Mychel Thompson's 12 early points and Ognjen Kuzmic, on assignment from the Golden State Warriors had eight. Aaron Craft facilitated the offense with five assists in the quarter. The Red Claws were led by Tim Frazier's 10 points on the way to a 32-25 Warriors lead after one.

The Red Claws kept themselves in contention in the second quarter with the strong play of Chris Babb, who chipped in nine points while the rest of the team balanced the scoring, with Jermaine Taylor and Rodney McGruder adding four each to match Santa Cruz's 26 points, led by Thompson's six and James Michael McAdoo, Taylor Griffin and Dominique Sutton's four apiece. The visitors took a 58-51 lead into the locker room.

Maine came out firing in the second half, with Andre Stringer converting all three of his shots beyond the arc and all three of his free throws. Babb had eight in the frame and McGruder six to contribute to the Red Claws' 42 point quarter, a new third quarter team record. Sean Kilpatrick had 11 for the Warriors, who saw their eight point lead turn into a 93-80 deficit heading into the decisive frame.

The Red Claws saw the lead build to 14 as Babb, McGruder and Stringer came out hot in the first five minutes of the fourth, but Santa Cruz locked down the defense to pull the game back to within four by holding Maine scoreless for six minutes while scoring 10 of their own points. An Andre Stringer three pointer from 35 feet out as the shot clock expired sandwiched between four Frazier free throws put the Red Claws out of the Warriors' reach, cruising to the 111-100 final.

For Santa Cruz, Thompson led all scorers with 27 points and three steals. Also scoring in double figures for the Warriors were Kilpatrick (19), McAdoo (12 points, 10 rebounds, five assists) and Kuzmic (12 points, 10 rebounds). Craft finished with seven points, seven assists and seven rebounds.

Maine was led by Stringer, with a new career high 23 points to go along with four assists and four steals. The Red Claws also got solid contributions from Babb (21 points, eight rebounds, two blocks), Frazier (18 points, seven assists, six rebounds, three steals), McGruder (14 points, five rebounds), Sherwood Brown (12 points, six rebounds) and Omari Johnson (nine points, 11 rebounds, three blocked shots). Taylor finished with six points and eight assists.

The Red Claws will be back in action on January 15th when they take on the Sioux Falls SkyForce in the first round of the D-League Showcase tournament in Santa Cruz. The Warriors play on January 13th in Delaware before heading home to take on Canton in the Showcase on the 15th.

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NBA G League Stories from January 10, 2015


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