Red Claws Lose Lead, Fall to Charge
February 28, 2018 - NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
Canton, OH - February 28, 2018 - The Maine Red Claws, presented by Unum, lost a 13-point lead late, getting out-scored by 10 in the 4th quarter and falling to the Canton Charge, 96-93.
Maine (17-24) was led by Boston Celtics assignee Guerschon Yabusele, who led all scorers with 24 points and 9 rebounds. Devin Williams returned from Team USA and the FIBA Qualifying games to record another double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Anthony Bennett, also back from FIBA Qualifying (Team Canada), added 12 points, L.J. Peak scored 14 points, and Kadeem Allen added 14 points and 7 assists. Daniel Dixon finished with 12 points for the Red Claws.
Canton (17-24) held Red Claws killer John Holland to just 15 points, but were led by former Red Claw Marcus Thornton, who had 21 points in the win.
Bennett opened the scoring with a fast break bucket, courtesy of Allen. Allen's nifty steal and score, and a Peak corner three made it an early 11-3 lead in the 1st. Yabusele's first points of the game, assisted by Bennett, put Maine up 10. Former Red Claw Marcus Thornton knocked in a pair of three's to get Canton back into the game. Williams picked up where he left off, grabbing boards and scoring buckets. Thornton scored 12 in the 1st quarter, but Maine led Canton 30-21 after 1.
Holland and the Charge scored 6 quick points to open the 2nd, cutting the lead to 33-31. Yabusele dropped in a three to stop the bleeding. Dixon rattled in a three to make it 46-39 Maine. The Charge and Claws would trade baskets, but Bennett knocking in a three that put Maine up 6, and the Red Claws led 54-47 at halftime. Bennett led the Red Claws with 12 points at the break. After shooting 52% in the 1st quarter, Maine shot just 26.9% in the 2nd.
Yabusele opened the 3rd by banking in a three to put Maine back up 10. Allen got in on the party, and Yabusele's three-point play followed by another Allen bucket made it 66-55 Red Claws. Yabusele dropped in another three to extend the lead. Holland's emphatic dunk cut the Red Claws' lead to 5, and Maine's lead after 3 quarters of play was 76-69.
In the 4th, Yabusele opened the scoring with three points the hard way - extending to 22 points on the night and a 78-69 lead for Maine. The Charge got right back into the game on an 11-4 run, and in the blink of an eye it was a two point game. Holland tied the game at 83 with a deep three, and Thornton's bank shot gave Canton its first lead at 85-83 with 3:30 to go. Yabusele followed that up with a huge three-ball. Thornton's finger roll put the Charge up 4. A two point game in the final minute, Grant Jerrett's monster slam put the Charge up 4. Peak buried a deep three to make it 94-93 with :06.5 to go, but the game-tying three from Allen was just off the mark. The Red Claws were out-scored 27-17 in the 4th quarter, and 49-39 in the 2nd half.
Maine shot just 35% (34-97) from the field, 24% (11-45) from three-point range and 14-20 from the free throw line. Canton shot 47% (35-74) from the floor, 30% (9-30) from downtown, and 17-25 from the charity stripe.
The Red Claws return to action Friday at Wisconsin. Maine heads home Thursday, March 8 for a rematch with Canton. Tickets are on sale now by calling 207-210-6655 or visiting MaineRedClaws.com.
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