Celtics Back at Expo to Battle Capital City Go-Go

PORTLAND, Maine. - After winning a crucial matchup against Westchester on Sunday, the Maine Celtics return to the Expo on Friday night to battle the Capital City Go-Go.  

Maine (2-2) is currently in fifth and will look to gain ground in the East division standings of the NBA G League Tip-Off Tournament against Capital City (4-2), who are one spot in front of them in the latest standings. The Celtics are just one game back of first place in the East.  

Maine split their two-game matchup with the Westchester Knicks over the weekend. After falling 127-100 in the home opener on Friday, Six Celtics scored in double figures in a bounce back performance on Sunday to win 118-110. It was the first loss for Westchester this season.  

The Celtics are led by one of the best playmakers in the G League in point guard JD Davison. The third-year guard is currently seventh in the league in scoring (26.0 ppg) and first in assists (10.5 apg). Davison is the franchise’s record holder in career points and assists.  

Similar to their affiliate the Boston Celtics, Maine takes more 3-pointers than most teams around the league. Through four games, the Celtics are third in the G League in attempts from three per game with 46.3. Capital City shoots the second fewest per game (31.3). Maine is sixth in the G League in points per game and ninth in assists. 

Celtics boast elite shooting with wing players Drew Peterson, Baylor Scheierman, and Drew Peterson. Peterson made his Maine season debut against the Knicks last weekend. The two-way player scored 18 points and shot 4/9 from beyond the arc. Peterson also grabbed nine rebounds and distributed six assists. Scheierman is currently fourth in the G League in 3-pointers made with 21. Scheierman finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds in Sunday’s win and shot 5/10 from deep.  

Hason Ward has provided a spark off the bench for the Celtics this year with his rim protection. The rookie out of Iowa State leads the G League with 15 total blocks this season (3.8 per game). Maine blocked 15 shots as a team against Long Island, which was the most blocked shots in a game since March 2020, and the fourth most blocks in a game in franchise history. Fellow big man Dmytro Skapintsev is third in the G League in blocks per game, just behind Ward with 3.3 per game. The Celtics also lead the G League in blocked shots with 10.8 per contest. 

Capital City will look to their guards to score against the Celtics on Friday as they look to improve on their 4-2 record. The Go-Go defeated Raptors 905 109-109 on Tuesday night. One of the main keys in this weekend’s matchup will be the turnover battle as the Go-Go currently averages 21.3 turnovers per game, the fourth most in the G League.  

Capital City’s Two-Way players are Justin Champagnie, Jared Butler Jr. and Tristan Vukcevic. Champagnie has played 36 games in the NBA, including two games with Boston in the 2022-23 season. The 6’6 G/F is averaging 18.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game this season. Butler Jr. And Vukevic have not played for the Go-Go to this point.  

6’4 guard Erik Stevenson is currently leading Capital City in scoring with 20.5 points per game on 53.3% shooting from the field and 44.4% from three. Stevenson previously played for the Austin Spurs and Texas Legends. Ruben Nembhard Jr., a third-year guard for the Go-Go is also a scoring threat as the team’s primary point guard. Nembhard Jr. is averaging 17.3 PPG, 6.5 REB, and 5.6 AST. Former Maine Celtic Taylor Funk returns on the Go-Go's roster. The 6’8 forward began the season last year with Maine before being traded after the Winter Showcase.  

Friday and Sunday's games are part of the NBA G League Tip-Off Tournament. Maine is currently in fifth place in the East Division standings and Capital City is fourth. Teams are placed into four regions and will play 14 games exclusively against each other. Maine is in the East Region alongside Capital City, College Park, Delaware, Greensboro, Long Island, Raptors 905, and Westchester. The teams with the best winning percentage in each region, along with the next four teams with the best winning percentage regardless of their region will advance to compete for the Championship at the NBA G League Winter Showcase. 

WHERE TO WATCH: The Celtics will host Capital City on Friday at 7:00 p.m. at the Portland Expo. The teams will then reunite at the Expo on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Fans can watch both games live online at NBAGLeague.com. Both games will also air on tape-delay on NBC Sports Boston.