G League Maine Celtics

Red Claws Fall Short at Home

Published on February 27, 2020 under NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release


Portland, ME - The Maine Red Claws, presented by Unum, led by as many as 11 points in the second half but wound up losing a tough one at home to the Lakeland Magic Thursday night, 106-103.

Playing without Tacko Fall, Justin Bibbs and Kaiser Gates, all due to injury, Maine (27-11) was led by Bryce Brown with 27 points including 6-14 from three-point range. Sheldon Jeter posted a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Tremont Waters finished with 14 points, while John Bohannon finished with 14 points on 5-5 shooting and 8 rebounds.

Lakeland (21-17) was led by Vic Law, who finished with a game-high 32 points. Josh Magette added 26 in the win.

The Red Claws and Magic traded baskets early. Dorian Pickens' three-point play put Maine up 3. Josh Magette answered with a three-point play of his own. Magette buried a deep three to put Lakeland up 12-8. The Magic extended to a 12-0 run before Yante Maten stopped the streak at the free throw line. Maine went 8 full minutes without scoring a field goal. Sheldon Jeter ended that with a corner three. Despite the drought, Jeter's three gave Maine an 18-16 lead. A Hassani Gravett three at the buzzer tied the game at 22 after 1 quarter of play.

In the 2nd, Paige knocked in a three, followed by Jeter tip-in and a Brown three. John Bohannon's slam made it 36-29 Claws. The Magic went on a 9-0 run to tie the game. Brown stopped that with a three to make it 41-38. Waters followed that up with a three of his own. Maine led by as many as 9, but Vic Law's bucket cut it to 53-50. Magette got the bounce to make it a 1 point game. Magette drove and scored late in the quarter to give Lakeland a 54-53 lead. Waters' long two gave Maine a 55-54 halftime lead. The Red Claws led despite shooting just 38.3% (18-47) from the floor.

Waters buried a three in the 3rd to help Maine open a narrow lead. Jeter's three made it 69-62 Red Claws. Magette and B.J. Johnson scored back-to-back lay-ups to make it a one possession game. Law's corner three tied the game at 71. Law followed that up with another trey to give the Magic the lead. Brown turned a missed Magette free throw into a Maine three, re-gaining the lead. His steal and score made it 79-74 Claws. Maine led 85-78 after 3.

In the 4th, Wayne Blackshear's second effort put the Claws up 9. Gravett stopped the run with a three the other way. Paige's turnaround put Maine up 11. Magette's circus three-point shot cut it to 6. Law's four-point play cut it to 96-92. Isaac Humphries' bucket tied the game at 96. Magette's three gave Lakeland a 99-98 lead. Lakeland extended to 5 points before Brown cut it to 3 at the free throw line. Magette buried a deep three to put the Magic up 106-100. Brown buried a three with :50 to go to cut it to 106-103. Waters and Brown had shots at tying the game, but both missed. Lakeland out-scored Maine 28-18 in the 4th quarter.

Maine wound up shooting 38.4% (33-86) from the field, 37.8% (17-45) from three-point range and 11-13 from the free throw line. Lakeland shot 48.2% (40-83) from the floor, 39.3% (11-28) from downtown and 9-13 from the charity stripe.

The Red Claws return to action Saturday against Erie.

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