GAME PREVIEW: Celtics Square Off with Squadron

PORTLAND, Maine. - The Maine Celtics will play their third home game in four days when the Birmingham Squadron come to the Expo on Sunday. Maine is currently sixth in the East and Birmingham is tenth.

This will be the first meeting between the Celtics (3-2) and Squadron (1-1) this season. While Maine has played a congested home schedule since the Winter Showcase, Birmingham hasn't played since Dec. 30. Maine will be throwing it back on Sunday to the days when the team was nicknamed the "Red Claws." Maine's players and coaches will all be wearing throwback Red Claws uniforms and gear.

The Celtics are coming off a 105-90 win over Wisconsin on Friday where Maine led wire-to-wire in the win to split the two-game series with Wisconsin. Baylor Scheierman was the catalyst on offense for the Celtics, leading the way with 23 points on 9-18 shooting from the field. Maine also saw big contributions from its bench with Ron Harper Jr. and Jay Scrubb each scoring 17 points for the Celtics. Two-Way guard JD Davison added 16 points and five assists.

Davison, Maine's all-time leading scorer, enters Sunday's game just four points shy of becoming the franchise's first 2,000 point scorer. Fellow Two-Way Player Drew Peterson is expected to be back with Maine on Sunday after being away with Boston for the first five games of the regular season. Peterson last suited up for Maine on Dec. 22 at the Winter Showcase and has played in 10 games this season.

Scheierman has been on a terror through the first five games of the regular season. The rookie is averaging 21.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. The Boston assignee has made 21 threes on 40.4% from deep through those five regular season games. 21 triples is tied for the second most in the G League.

The Squadron will be without Two-Way Players Brandon Boston Jr., Jamal Cain, and Trey Jemison. Through the first two games of the regular season, it's been Jalen Crutcher and Lester Quinones leading the way with 19.5 ppg each. Crutcher knocked down 54 three-pointers during the Tip-Off Tournament, fourth most in the league.

Maine has played the bulk of the regular season without Two-Way Player Drew Peterson, who scored five points in Friday's game against the Houston Rockets. Fellow Two-Way Players JD Davison and Anton Watson are expected to be with Maine again for Sunday's matinee.

The Celtics added two new players in the last week in Kameron Warrens and DJ Rodman. Warrens was acquired on January 1 and London Johnson was waived in a corresponding move. Warrens made his Celtics debut on January 2 against Wisconsin. On Friday, Rodman made his Maine debut in the second game against the Herd after Maine was granted the Roster Hardship Exception from the Available Player Pool.

INJURY REPORT: Don Carey, Jr. (OUT) - Injury/Illness, Eric Gaines (OUT) - Injury/Illness, Dmytro Skapintsev (OUT) - Injury/Illness

WHERE TO WATCH: Maine will play Birmingham at 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Portland Expo. It will be a Throwback night where Maine will be wearing "Red Claws" uniforms. The game will broadcast live on NBA TV and on tape delay on NBC Sports Boston.