Strong 2nd Quarter Lifts Motor City Past Maine in Showcase Cup
December 20, 2021 - NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
Las Vegas, NV - The Maine Celtics, presented by Unum, put up a fight, but a strong 2nd quarter carried the Motor City Cruise to victory, beating Maine 116-103 in the Showcase Cup Quarterfinal matchup at the NBA G League Winter Showcase.
Maine was led by Jaysean Paige, whose game-high 39 points was a season high for the Celtics. Maine was severely short-handed due to injuries, with only the minimum 8 players dressed for the game, including two players that were signed earlier in the day. Chris Clemons added 21 points, while Juwan Morgan scored 13 points and Eric Demers added 12.
Motor City scored 40 points in the 2nd quarter - The Cruise were led by a trio of players who finished with 20 points - Chieck Diallo had 20 points and 15 rebounds, while Deividas Sirvydis added 20 points, as did Derrick Walton, Jr. Jamorko Pickett added 18 points in the win.
Paige opened the scoring for Maine with a contested three, putting Maine up 1. Wooten fed Morgan for a slam to put the Celtics up 10-9. Derrick Walton, Jr. evened the game at 16 at the free throw line. Morgan and Demers paced Maine early. Asante Gist hit a pull-up jumper to give Maine a 20-18 advantage as the teams traded buckets. The Celtics went on a 7-0 run capped by a Demers three, and Maine led 28-21after 1.
The Cruise started the 2nd quarter hot - Shawndre Jones dropped in a three followed by a Isaiah Livers dunk, and just like that the game was tied at 28. Motor City went on a 9-0 run to take the lead. Maine would hang tough with Motor City, but Chieck Diallo's dunk plus the foul put the Cruise up 42-37. Deividas Sirvydis buried a three to put Motor City up 10. The lead would extend to 15 before Gist hit a pull-up to stop the run. Still, Motor City led at halftime, 61-45. The Cruise out-scored the Celtics 40-17 in the 2nd quarter, shooting 42.2% (19-45) from the floor in the first half, including 10-22 from three-point range. Maine shot just 38.1% (16-42) from the floor, and 5-14 from beyond the arc.
Motor City picked up right where they left off to open the 3rd, with Jarmorko Pickett scoring 5 quick points. The Celtics, playing short-handed and their third game in four nights including a cross-country flight, started to tire, missing three lay-ups in the period. Down 22, Maine scored three quick buckets, and Jahlil Tripp added a three to cut it to 75-62. Clemons' three-point play got it to 10. Clemons and Maine continued to pour it on, going on an 18-4 run to cut it to 8. Motor City led 81-74 after 3. Maine out-scored Motor City 29-20 in the period.
In the 4th, both teams would trade buckets to open the quarter. Paige's three-point play would get Maine to down 5, but the Cruise hit back-to-back threes to extend back to 10 at 97-87. Pickett rattled in a three to put Motor City up 11. Maine could not get any closer.
Motor City advances to play Oklahoma City in the Showcase Cup semifinals. Maine will next play Tuesday against Rio Grande Valley.
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