Red Claws Storm Back for 87-82 Victory Over Tulsa
Published on December 13, 2009 under NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
PORTLAND, ME - The Maine Red Claws showed their fortitude, battling back for an impressive last-minute victory mere hours after flying home following from Erie. The first six games of the Red Claws season had been decided by ten points or more, but Sunday night's thrilling comeback 87-82 victory over the Tulsa 66ers put the Red Claws to the test for the first time since their opening night loss.
Trey Gilder's thunderous dunk with 8:04 to play in the third quarter ignited an 8-0 run that brought the Red Claws back into contention after being severely outplayed in the first half. Despite being outscored 57-40 in the first half, Maine was down a mere three points after the third. The Red Claws fully closed the gap in the fourth to cap off the impressive win. The win puts them at 5-1 for the season and drops the 66ers to 4-5.
Will Blalock was instrumental in the comeback with a Red Claw high 15 points for the game. Darnell Lazare, Billy Thomas and Alexis Ajinca were all in double figures to round out the balanced scoring attack. The 66er Mustafa Shakur had a game high 21 points.
The first half of the game was dominated by Tulsa as they shot 60% from behind the arch and controlled the inside out rebounding the Red Claws 26 to 17, but the Red Claws defense clamped down in the second half limiting Tulsa to just a 38% field goal percentage for the game.
The Portland Expo was filled with 3,045 raucous fans, the Red Claws second consecutive sellout, who made the comeback that much more exciting. Maine is back in action Wednesday in Erie while Tulsa will play next on the 18th against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
NBA G League Stories from December 13, 2009
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- Red Claws Storm Back for 87-82 Victory Over Tulsa - Maine Celtics
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