Short-Handed Red Claws Fall at Showcase
December 19, 2019 - NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
Las Vegas, NV - The Maine Red Claws, presented by Unum, overcame a slow start to take the lead, but lost a close game to the Canton Charge, 118-113 at the opening game of the NBA G League MGM Resorts Winter Showcase.
Maine (9-5) was short-handed, without Justin Bibbs and Yante Maten due to injury. The Red Claws were led by strong guard play. Two-Way Player Tremont Waters led Maine with 27 points, 9 assists and 5 steals. Carsen Edwards, on assignment from the Boston Celtics, added 23 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. John Bohannon, making his first start of the season, added 16 points on 8-8 shooting to go with 8 rebounds and 2 blocks. Kaiser Gates scored 12 points, while Wayne Blackshear led the bench with 11 points. Sheldon Jeter added 10 off the bench in the loss.
Canton (11-5) was led by Malik Newman with 29 points, including a crucial three-pointer in the final minute.
J.P Macura opened the game knocking in a pair of threes. Waters dropped in a tough reverse lay-up to cut the early deficit to 3. Macura continued to pour it on for Canton - his three-point play gave him 12 points and a 19-7 Charge lead. Edwards led the comeback with a fast break lay-up. Gates, Sheldon Jeter and Wayne Blackshear paced the offense, but the Red Claws trailed Canton 35-26 after 1.
In the 2nd, Edwards and Waters started to get Maine back into the game. Waters three cut it to 6 points , and Brown's steal led to a Gates lay-up to make it 47-43. Waters' steal led to a Jaysean Paige dunk and a 2 point game. Brown heated up from the outside, nailing a late corner three. Maine took its first lead in the final minute of the half on a Jeter three. Maine trailed 59-58 at the half, with Edwards leading the way with 12 points.
Waters and Edwards started to take over offensively in the 3rd, with Waters assisting Edwards for a lay-up, and Waters dropping in a three-pointer on the next possession. John Bohannon provided an offensive spark, helping Maine extend to an 8 point lead. Edwards dropped in a three to put Maine up 10. Waters followed that up with a three of his own to make it 81-68. The Charge weren't done. Sir'Dominic Pointer's bucket cut the Red Claws lead to 6, and Maine led 91-85 after 3.
In the 4th, the Charge opened on a run. Malik Newman's three cut it to a 3 point game, and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman's three-point play tied the game at 97. Edwards' blow-by lay-up put Maine up 1. Gates' dunk made it 109-106 with 4:00 to go. Canton re-gained the lead at the free throw line. Bohannon's offensive board and put-back tied the game at 113 with 1:00 to go. Newman buried a contested three to put Canton up 3. Waters just missed a game-tying shot in the final seconds.
Maine shot 50.5% (48-95) from the floor, 24.4% (11-45) from three-point range, and 3-4 from the free throw line. Canton shot 51.9% (42-81) from the field, 37.5% (12-32) from beyond the arc, and 14-16 from the charity stripe.
The Red Claws next Showcase game will be against either Stockton or Delaware Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
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