Shayok Catches Fire in Clutch Win for Maine
January 22, 2023 - NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
PORTLAND, ME - The Maine Celtics snapped a three-game losing streak with a 115-112 victory over the Lakeland Magic behind a season-high 32 points from Marial Shayok and another double-double from JD Davison.
Shayok led Maine (8-3) with 32 points, the most he's scored in a Celtics uniform, adding five rebounds and five assists. Two-Way rookie JD Davison notched 16 points, seven rebounds and 14 assists, his fourth-straight game with at least 10 assists. Kamar Baldwin tallied 16 points and seven assists and Trey Davis added 13 and five assists. Two-Way big Mfiondu Kabengele finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds in just 18 minutes due to foul trouble. Marvin Smith Jr. posted 11 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.
Orlando assignee Caleb Houstan led Lakeland (8-4) with 25 points and five made three-pointers. Jay Scrubb put up 19 points and eight rebounds. Zavier Simpson totaled 13 points, four rebounds and 10 assists and Robert Baker added 11 points. Aleem Ford logged 10 points and six rebounds.
Baldwin's patented stop-and-pop jumper from the free throw line kicked things off and Kabengele infused the Expo with energy with an early and-one putback dunk. Maine held an 11-7 advantage at the first break; it was a low-scoring, rock fight of a first quarter that resembled last night's game before both offenses picked it up. Lakeland outscored the Celtics 8-5 down the stretch of the first quarter to take a 26-25 lead after one.
Shayok canned a three and Smith cleaned up a missed Baldwin three to put the Celtics ahead by two early in the second. Houstan nailed a deep three for Lakeland to end a 7-2 Celtics run, but Demers answered back with a pair of triples that barely touched the net on the way down. Maine held a two-possession lead during the middle of the quarter, and they were able to stretch it to 10 by halftime to take a 63-53 lead into the locker room.
The Celtics were able to stretch the lead to as much as 16 early in the third before a Lakeland run got them within six, 71-64. Maine pushed it back to double digits soon after with the help of Davison's distributing; he logged his 10th assist late in the quarter, marking his fourth consecutive game with at least 10 assists. The Magic went on a 7-0 run in the closing minutes but a corner three from Baldwin and a driving lefty finish from Davison made it 90-84 in favor of the Celtics after three.
Another 7-0 run by Lakeland, this one powered by Houstan put them ahead 91-90 for their first lead since early in the second quarter. Baldwin responded with a layup and a pull-up to get the lead back for Maine, though Houstan's three just before the seven-minute mark tied it up at 96 and started an 8-0 run that gave the Magic a 101-96 lead. From that point onward, Shayok was in control. He'd bury a trio of threes in crunch time to propel the Celtics back in front late and dished to a wide-open Davis in the left corner for a critical trey with 42 seconds left. Lockdown defense in the closing seconds sealed the game and gave Maine a skid-snapping victory over Lakeland, 115-112.
The Celtics will head to Indianapolis for a matchup with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on Jan. 24 before hosting the Birmingham Squadron for a Saturday matinee on Jan. 28.
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