Strong Second Half Lifts Maine Celtics to 4-0
November 15, 2022 - NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
UNIONDALE, N.Y. - The Maine Celtics, presented by Unum, closed out the game on an 8-1 run over the final 3:30 to collect a come-from-behind victory, 117-111, and sweep the Nets in a two-game series. Maine improves to 4-0 on the season, and is the only remaining undefeated team in the NBA G League.
Two-Way players JD Davison and Mfiondu Kabengele led the way for Maine (4-0), with Davison notching 18 points, five rebounds and nine assists and Kabengele posting 20 points, nine rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Luka ©amanić finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and two blocks for the double-double. Marvin Smith Jr. scored 14 points, 12 of which came in the first half, and grabbed seven rebounds. Marial Shayok logged 12 points and five rebounds while Denzel Valentine totaled 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Scottie Lindsey had 13 points off the bench.
Jordan Bowden led Long Island (0-4) again, this time with 26 points, six rebounds and five assists. Chris Chiozza recorded 23 points, seven rebounds and nine assists and Donovan Williams tallied 16 points and four rebounds. Raiquan Gray posted 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Kavion Pippen and Alondes Williams scored 12 points a piece.
A 13-foot fadeaway from Shayok broke the ice before Bowden picked up right where he left off on Sunday, going on a 7-0 solo run to give the Nets an early lead. Physical play early on contributed to a few Maine turnovers early, though they were boosted by Smith's hot start off the bench as he tallied five points and an assist to bring the Celtics within two, 23-21 at the first timeout. Long Island came out of the timeout with an 8-2 run as the pace picked up a bit to end the quarter with Maine struggling to take care of the ball again, reaching eight turnovers before the first ended. The Nets took advantage of the Celtics' inconsistencies, leading 34-27 after one.
Smith and Gray traded threes to open the second before Smith stripped Kameron Hankerson and took it coast-to-coast for a layup, causing the Nets to call a timeout up 38-32. The Celtics shooters were cold early in the second, but the Nets defense allowed enough easy buckets to hang around. ©amanić found Lindsey cutting down the lane for a wide-open layup and made an impact on the offensive glass, helping Maine create cleaner shot opportunities. The Celtics got within three, but an 11-0 run from Long Island stretched their lead back to 14, the largest lead by either team across the two-game set. Kamar Baldwin drove to the rim and finished high off the glass for his first bucket of the game to end the run, and Lindsey's free throws made it 64-52 in favor of the Nets at the break.
Williams scored four of the Nets' first six in the third quarter, making it 70-54. ©amanić and Shayok were the primary sources of offense for Maine early in the third, with Lindsey knocking down a triple that sparked a run to bring the Celtics within seven, 81-74. Baldwin nailed a 1-for-2 free throw and step-back three to make it a two-point game. Chiozza's three and Bowden's and-one gave the Nets breathing room, though it wouldn't last for long as Davison and Kabengele both hit from deep in the final two minutes to help the Celtics tie the game, 93-93, heading into the fourth quarter. Maine outscored the Nets 41-29 in the third.
Maine took their first lead of the game, 98-96, early in the third and were up by four points prior to giving up a 7-0 run as the Nets stormed back in front, forecasting what ended up as a tight, back-and-forth game down the stretch. Davison and Kabengele did the bulk of the scoring in the fourth quarter, and even as turnover problems resurfaced the Two-Way players were able to help carry the Celtics through the closing minutes, each hitting a three on consecutive possessions to push the lead to five, 115-110. A successful coach's challenge from Alex Barlow kept possession for Maine with under two minutes to go and Kabengele leaked out in transition for a game-icing dunk that put the Celtics up six with 20.3 seconds remaining. Maine collected the victory, 117-111.
The Celtics return to Portland, where they will play three home games in four days this week. It all starts Thursday with a two-game set against Capital City. Maine then finished the weekend with a Sunday matinee vs. Delaware. Tickets for all three games are on sale now by visiting MaineCeltics.com.
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