Celtics return home for key date with Gold

PORTLAND, Maine. - The Maine Celtics face the Grand Rapids Gold on Friday night for one game at home before the Celtics travel for their final road trip of the Regular Season.

Maine (14-16) is currently 10th in the Eastern Conference standings, and sits one game back of playoff positioning with six games remaining. Grand Rapids comes to town on Friday with a 9-21 record, seeking a season sweep over the Celtics. Maine is 8-7 at home in the regular season.

Maine and Grand Rapids previously met on January 29 at the Portland Expo. Dane Goodwin scored 17 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Gold erased a 22-point deficit to rally past Maine 122-119 in OT. Grand Rapids outscored Maine 59-34 over the last 17:42 of regulation and overtime to steal the victory. Ron Harper Jr. scored a game-high 37 points behind seven threes in a losing effort. 

The Celtics are coming off a crucial, 119-112 win over the Eastern Conference leading Osceola Magic on Tuesday. Two-Way player John Tonje scored a career-high 42 points to lead Maine. Tonje buried 8 of his 10 shots from three, and shot 12-20 overall in his 42-point, seven rebound effort to pace the Celtics. 42 points is the 11^th most points scored in a single game in franchise history. Hank Morgan joined Tonje in the three-point party on Tuesday. Morgan converted on 6-7 shots from deep to score 22 points off the bench for Maine. Hason Ward added 14 points and five rebounds, and Keon Johnson and Kendall Brown each scored 13. Maine shot 52.7% (39-74) from the floor and 50% (17-34) from three. Tonje and Morgan were a combined 14-17 (82%) from three. 

Grand Rapids brings one of the top offensive attacks in the G League to the Expo. The Gold rank first in field goal attempts per game, averaging 96 a contest. They're sixth in made field goals per game, and second in offensive rebounds per game, averaging just under 15 a game. Maine will look to exploit the Gold's defense, which ranks 30th in defensive rating out of 31 teams (119).

Gold Two-Way players Curtis Jones and KJ Simpson are expected to be with the team on Friday, as well as big man Moses Brown, who ranks third in the G League in points in the paint with nearly 18 per game.

Friday's game will tip-off at 7 p.m. at the Portland Expo and will broadcast live on NBC Sports Boston and NBAGLeague.com.