Red Claws Ring in New Year with Record-Setting Win
Published on December 31, 2014 under NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
Portland, ME- The Maine Red Claws, presented by Unum, used a long-range barrage, setting a team record for made three point field goals (19) to down the Texas Legends in a New Year's Eve matinee at the Portland Expo building, 122-106.
Maine (13-3) opened the game cold, with the Legends (10-6) opening on a 10-3 run led by veteran Mike James, who finished the quarter with 15 points. The Red Claws fought their way back into the game with a run of their own that saw four players scoring with Chris Babb capping off the 12-2 run. The teams would trade baskets until the 2:01 mark. Beginning with a Christian Watford three, Andre Stringer converted three shots from behind the arc sandwiched around another Watford jumper to close out the quarter on a 14-2 run and a 34-28 lead.
Texas went toe to toe with Boston Celtics' first round draft pick James Young to open the second, with the Legends scoring an early 10 points to Young's eight. Legend veteran Renaldo Balkman scored 16 points in the quarter, including eight of the final 10 Texas points in the quarter to head into the locker room with a 64-62 edge for the visitors.
Maine broke the ice in the second half with a Ralph Sampson basket on consecutive possessions, and Young converted three pointers on three consecutive trips down the court to tie the game and then open a six point lead. Asauhn Dixon-Tatum had a pair of inside baskets and Jermaine Taylor scored six straight points to open up an 86-76 lead. The Red Claws held Texas to 5-21 shooting (24%) while catching fire for 12-22 (6-11 from deep) to widen the gap to 94-82 heading into the final frame.
The Red Claws would again get hot early in the fourth, with Watford converting a three point play followed by back to back threes from Sampson and Jermaine Taylor, with Taylor's basket tying the previous team record for made three pointers. Eric Griffin put in a solid effort for the Legends, putting in 10 points in the quarter, but an Omari Johnson three at the 2:53 mark broke the Red Claws record and opened the lead up to 18. The teams traded baskets to close out the Red Claws eighth home victory on the season.
The Legends were led by Griffin's 22 points. Also scoring in double-figures for Texas were Damion James (21 points, 10 rebounds), Balkman (20 points, 13 rebounds) and Mike James (19).
Maine was paced by Young (25 points, five rebounds). Johnson (17 points, five rebounds), Taylor (15), Babb (14), Stringer (13 points, five rebounds), Dixon-Tatum (13 points, five rebounds), Sampson (11 points, five rebounds) and Watford (10 points, six rebounds) round out the Red Claws in double figures. Tim Frazier handed out 14 assists and secured seven rebounds in the win.
The Red Claws hit the road for a Friday night tilt in Westchester before returning to the Expo on Saturday, January 3rd for a 7:00pm contest against the Delaware 87ers. The Legends travel to Austin to take on the Spurs on Friday night.
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