Celtics clash with Cleveland to wrap up Regular Season

PORTLAND, Maine. - The Maine Celtics will clash with the Cleveland Charge in the penultimate game of the Regular Season on Sunday at the Portland Expo.

With just two games remaining in the regular season, Maine (16-18) is one of four teams separated by a game or less vying for the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference in the NBA G League Playoffs presented by Google. The Cleveland Charge (22-10) are currently third in the East and have already booked their ticket to the postseason.

The Celtics return to the Expo after going 1-2 on the final road trip of the regular season, earning a key victory in Long Island on Thursday 114-104. With Amari Williams and Max Shulga on assignment from Boston, Maine outrebounded the Nets 52-33 and the Celtics made 23-24 (95.8%) of their free throws on Thursday night. Williams led Maine with 20 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks. Kendall Brown also scored 20 points on an efficient 8-11 shooting from the floor. Hason Ward posted another double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, and John Tonje added 14 points for the Celtics. 

Maine has reached the postseason in three consecutive seasons, and the Celtics have reached the NBA G League Eastern Conference Finals in each of the past two seasons. Since the start of training camp, Maine Head Coach Phil Pressey has emphasized the standard the franchise has set.

"Something we try to get the guys to understand is that the standard, is the standard," Pressey explained during Training Camp. "It doesn't matter if you are up in Portland or down in Boston. The standard is the standard."

Cleveland is led by Two-Way players Olivier Sarr, Riley Minix, and Tristan Enaruna. Celtics fans may remember Enaruna, who spent all of last season with the Maine Celtics. Enaruna averaged 11.0 points and 5.3 rebounds in 46 appearances for the Celtics last season. He's had a breakout season for the Charge, earning a Two-Way contract where Enaruna has averaged 20.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Sarr is questionable to go on Sunday, but if the big man does play, it will be his fifth meeting with Maine this season. Sarr started the year with Raptors 905, before earning a Two-Way contract with Cleveland on March 4.

Maine will try to slow down one of the top defenses in the league in Cleveland, who's second as a team in scoring at 125 points per game. If the Celtics can take care of business against the Charge, they'll have a good chance at qualifying for the NBA G League Playoffs presented by Google for the fourth consecutive season.

Sunday's game will be broadcast live on NBA TV and NBC Sports Boston at noon from the Portland Expo. Maine and Cleveland will meet again in the Regular Season finale on Tuesday at 7 p.m.