Maine faces another tough test in Austin Spurs

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Maine Celtics look to bounce back on Sunday against the Austin Spurs in the NBA G League Winter Showcase Tournament Consolation game.

The Celtics (0-1) lost in the quarterfinals of the Winter Showcase Tournament 123-107 to the Salt Lake City Stars on Friday. Friday's game also marked the first contest of the Regular Season.

Ron Harper Jr. and Jalen Bridges combined for 57 points in the loss. It was a big day for Bridges in front of multiple league executives from around the NBA. The second-year guard/forward out of Baylor set new career-highs for points (28) and for three-pointers made (8). Despite the strong shooting efforts from Harper and Bridges, Maine shot just 38.8% as a team from the floor and the Celtics were outrebounded by the Stars 58-36.

Harper scored 11 of his team-high 29 points in the first five minutes of Friday's game in an effort to set the tone early on for his team. Maine will need Harper to lead the way again on Sunday against a talented Spurs team.

"I feel like experience will help me guide these guys and try to keep them prepared, keep them on their toes and ready for the next challenge," Harper said.

The Austin Spurs (0-1) finished Tip-Off Tournament play with a 12-2 record, earning the #3 seed in the eight-team field. Austin lost to the sixth-seeded Stockton Kings 109-107 in overtime in Friday's quarterfinals. Spurs guard Sidy Cissoko scored a game-high 30 points in the loss and fellow guard Isaiah Miller added 17.

The matchup is the second leg in a daunting start to the regular season schedule for the Maine Celtics. After Sunday's game at the Winter Showcase Tournament, Maine will travel north to take on Raptors 905 in two games on December 27 and 28. That means the first four games of the Regular Season for the Celtics will be against the top three seeds at the Winter Showcase.

With a defensive rating of 105.2, Austin has proven to be one of the top defenses in the G League during the Tip-Off Tournament. They're currently ranked second in defensive rating and are second in opponent field goal percentage, holding their opponents under 44% shooting on average. Maine was third in defensive rating at 106.2.

Sunday's matchup features two of the top rebounders in the league in Maine Two-Way player Amari Williams and Austin's Harrison Ingram. Williams averaged 10.9 rebounds in the Tip-Off Tournament (6th) and Ingram grabbed 10.8 per game (7th). Ingram, along with David Jones Garcia and Kyle Mangas are the Two-Way players for the Spurs. Jones Garcia leads the Spurs in scoring at 27.2 PPG on 41.9% FG shooting in just five appearances with Austin. Garcia poured in 31 points and Stanley Umude racked up 34 points in Friday's loss to the Kings. Ingram posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

While $100,000 is no longer on the line for the Celtics, Maine is determined to earn a weekend split and go into the Holiday break with a 1-1 regular season record. Maine tips off against Austin on Sunday at 12 p.m. EST in the consolation matchup. The game will broadcast live on NBA TV.