Game Preview - Maine at Greensboro - Nov. 24, 2023

Game details: 

Matchup: Maine Celtics (3-2) at Greensboro Swarm (2-4) 

Location: Novant Health Fieldhouse; Greensboro, N.C. 

Tip-off: 2:00 PM EST 

Streaming: NBAGLeague.com 

Since dropping a pair of games to open the season, the Maine Celtics have ripped off three-straight wins to get above the .500 mark. Today, the Celtics look to make it four wins in a row on the back end of a two-game set with the Greensboro Swarm. 

Breaking down the Swarm: 

Neither team was able to gain a statistical edge in the Wednesday night matchup. The rebounding and turnover battles were almost exact ties, both teams shot within a percentage point of each other from the field and scored 52 points in the paint – it all adds up to a game that came down to the final buzzer. JD Davison’s career-high 38 points to go with four rebounds and eight assists gave the Celtics the edge, though Jaylen Sims refused to let Greensboro go down quietly. If Sims had made the tying 3-point attempt at the horn, the result could look a lot different than it does now. 

Swarm Two-Way guard Leaky Black missed the front end of the two-game set with a wrist injury. If Black is available this afternoon, Greensboro regains a lengthy, active defender and rebounder, already having held Maine to a season-low in scoring with 105 points. There’s a slight chance Two-Way guard Theo Maledon is available to play, but he’s already played in 11 games (one start) and averages 17.5 minutes per game with the Charlotte Hornets – with the Swarm’s big club on a three-day break, Maledon might need the rest. Amari Bailey, and possibly Black, should be the only Two-Ways available for the Swarm. 

Three keys to the game: 

Scoring distribution: No quarrels here with Davison’s best scoring performance to date. The athletic second-year guard gets into the paint at will, can finish an array of layups, floaters, and touch shots, and willingly distributes to teammates. Reinforcement in the scoring department would help the Celtics claim a more comfortable win – only DJ Steward and Neemias Queta were in double-figures with Davison last time around. 

Boston (Maine) Three Party: Heading into Wednesday’s game, the Celtics were the number one 3-point shooting team in the G League in percentage and total makes. After shooting 8-31 (25.8%) from deep, Maine is now tied for third in 3-point makes per game (15.2) and is sixth in percentage (36.9%). Jordan Schakel and Tony Snell were the only players with multiple made threes – as it is for any team in the modern era, sinking threes at an efficient, high-volume clip is imperative to success on offense. 

Battle of the boards: The Celtics have the size advantage against Greensboro – Nathan Mensah and Jeremiah Tilmon are the tallest Swarm at 6-foot-10, and no other player stands taller than 6-foot-8. If Kylor Kelley is available (he missed the last game with an illness), the Celtics have two seven-footers, the 6-foot-10 James Banks III and 6-foot-8 Nathan Knight, who’s strength and mobility are among the best at his position. Maine has the tools to win the battle after being outrebounded by the Swarm 45-44 last time out.